Hello everyone, I have come across this very convincing 1897 “Crown” coin, I cant tell if its some kind of high grade imitation or a special edition of some kind. The weight is 27.6/7g, same diameter, has reeded edge, Coin alignment and is thicker than the normal silver crown. Any insight on this one?
Well, i thought it would be a fake but, the grade and image is really high, Identical to a normal crown and, there is nothing online like it.
I have emailed Royal Mint, Archives and Spink , Im hoping something of relevance will come up. I dont think its a fake, was hoping someone here would know something. I dont like to assume, I like to know.
So I found this online with very little effort (think I used “Victoria Gold Crown Coin”).
Nothing more than a plated original, different year but that's about it. Reeded edge & all.
If yours isn't just a total reproduction (and you can get quality detail ones if you look), I'd wager it's nothing more than a plated original.
Plating does add a small amount of size & weight, usually very minimal but probably noticeable when you've got an unaltered original right next to it.
Thats not the same coin at all and I never said gold, i never said plated, its Gilt Bronze . There is nothing like it online. I can find many variations, nothing like this one, not even close.
Doesn't the original have a lettered edge, not a reeded one?
I mean, I thought so. I've got 5 differing years & they're all lettered. But I didn't have that specific year, and I mentioned it was reeded as the OP's was.
My point was more that old coins are being altered so their coin could be a blend of original coin with some additions. What we'd usually call post mint damage. Idk if damage is quite the right word.
I know it isn't an exact copy of the coin. It's a different portrait because of the year for one thing. The point was if I can find a gold coloured, reeded edge, Victoria crown where we know it is significant post-mint changes, then someone might have done the same to this one.
It seems a bit too heavy for bronze. IIRC, bronze is about 15-20% lighter (depending on exact blend) than something the same size in sterling silver. So even a heavy bronze would be expected to be ~24g. Might be mistaken, been a while since metalwork days. 😛
I would expect it is simply a modern reproduction, or a seriously altered original.
Odds are you won't get a 100% answer here. If it was a true original & someone on here knew about it, it'd have been added to the catalogue.
Exonumia (such as reproductions) are much less catalogued.
Still, it'll be interesting to see what the professionals come back with. Hope you keep us informed. 🙂
So I found this online with very little effort (think I used “Victoria Gold Crown Coin”).
Nothing more than a plated original, different year but that's about it. Reeded edge & all.
If yours isn't just a total reproduction (and you can get quality detail ones if you look), I'd wager it's nothing more than a plated original.
Plating does add a small amount of size & weight, usually very minimal but probably noticeable when you've got an unaltered original right next to it.
Thats not the same coin at all and I never said gold, i never said plated, its Gilt Bronze . There is nothing like it online. I can find many variations, nothing like this one, not even close.
Are you aware that gilt means gold-plated? So gilt bronze means a base metal of bronze thinly plated with gold.
Just because you can't see it ... doesn't mean it isn't there - Anon.
I was always under the impression they were slightly different tbh.
Plating is done via electrolysis (or similar chemical process), whereas gilding is gold leaf or paint actually added by other means (usually by hand). Could be wrong of course. Depends on whether what I was taught was correct.
I suppose it's splitting hairs though, so I imagine they are used synonymously to many.
Though within the context of this “coin”, I think plated would actually be the better term. Plating covers the entire area fairly uniformly comparatively, keeping all details really nicely.
Though that still wouldn't explain the reeded edge instead of lettered if it was a plated original.
