Netherlands 1929 2 1/2 Gulden question - edge lettering

Hello Numista braintrust,

Small mystery here: I have a 1929 2 ½ Gulden coin with no edge lettering, and cannot find any reference to there being varieties without the edge lettering. Additionally, I have verified that the 1929 “secret pearl” exists and is in the correct position, so this seems to indicate that this is not a counterfeit coin.

The photos I've seen show the edge lettering as generally well stamped, so it seems highly unlikely that they have all disappeared due to wear.

Any information or ideas? Thanks!

Hi Bert542001, welcome to Numista and welcome to the forum!

I'm afraid that your coin has been badly mistreated. Someone must have been hammering it all around the edge, which gave the edge it remarkable raised effect, but also hammered the inscription away. Probably, the diameter is also slightly less than it should.

It certainly looks like an authentic coin, but the damage inflicted reduces its value to silver bullion (nevertheless a nice dinner for one).

I don't understand why people do this to artefacts that managed to survive the test of time. Envy, I guess.

Yes totally agree, genuine coin that has been hammered area the edge. If I may hazard a guess as to why, maybe it was done to fit into some form of pre sized jewellery broach or something, so that no soldering or damage was done to the face of the coin? Same effect in the end though, just worth melt now. 

Thanks for the replies, ArnoV and King.

I suspected something was not right. I guess it will be my fancy paperweight now. It's a shame because it is otherwise a relatively nice coin.

Cheers!

Josh

IDK if it was hammered or maybe crudely “Rolled” to achieve this effect. At least it not a super valuable coin.

Yep. Still not sure what compelled someone to do it, and I guess I'll never know.