1875 25 Pesetas Alfonso XII

Hi Numista,

First post! Just trying to find out more information about a coin for my Mother. She was given this coin mounted into a necklace by my Grandmother before she went travelling in the early 1970s as an emergency fund. The year 1875 appears to be outside the production range from a simple google search. Haven't dismounted the coin but I can see the raised Fleur de lys around the edge. Not sure if anyone can help with this date? 

Cheers

Is there a number in one of the stars next to the date? Can't see it in the photo.

The original type was restruck in the 1960's, but as far as I know they kept to the dates of the original. The real date was noted in the star.

I'll need to get a closer look with some magnification, I didn't know to look for the date in the starts when I had it out and with the wear it wasn't immediately noticeable if there were any. 

From the picture it looks like NSM which doesn't exist on this coin. Can you check that's what it is?

Thanks for the replies. We have had the coin out again and using some better light and a magnifying glass the details were a bit easier to make out. The Stars do have a date and the 75 is visible, the front is MSM not NSM. Have measured it at 24mm diameter and 1mm thick. Weight is a touch under 10gms with the mounting.

So if the year in the stars matches the 1875 then it is not one of the restrikes. According to the catalogues I have it should not exist, which leads me to believe it is a fake (Occam's razor). It is hard to see in the pictures, but it looks like on the obverse the yellow colour is disappearing. Especially at the edges, where it would be subjected to wear while being worn against clothing or skin.

The weight without mounting would be interesting, but if it is gold-clad tungsten it would not deviate from the original gold one.

I suggest you visit a jeweller to have it tested.

The portrait also have a lot of red flags which are visible on your new, better quality images.
- Crumpled ear
- Missing monogram at the bottom of the bust
- Straight hairline
- The hair is much less curly and less detailed than it should

These, and the non-existent date are all pointing to that this a fake.

Also, MSM doesn't make sense as that could not happen before 1879.