Paydirt.co.nz

New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

 

The forum has moved to community.paydirt.co.nz, see you there!

This forum is now an archive to preserve the knowledge and finds posted here.

Is this a forgery?.... - ...but why bother forging a penny?
number8wire  
Posted : Monday, 31 March 2014 9:07:06 PM(UTC)
number8wire

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/06/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,175
Man
New Zealand
Location: Christchurch

Thanks: 913 times
Was thanked: 880 time(s) in 425 post(s)
Hi all,
Hopefully the pics will tell the story but here's the background.
Back at Christmas time, I had the opportunity to hunt an old domain. I dug quite a few Brit pennies but one seemed rather different from all the others. Firstly and probably most noticeably, it is quite a bit lighter and thinner than a normal Brit penny. Secondly, it is fractionally smaller in circumference than a normal Brit penny. Also noticable, is that it seems to be made from a different metal...possibly more of a brass/alloy mix.
The first pic is the Britannia of a normal 1919 penny.......the second, is the dubious one, also dated 1919.
Thoughts?
Why bother forging a penny?
All thoughts or idea's welcomed, and thank you in advance.

Number8wire


number8wire attached the following image(s):
20140331_195934.jpg
20140331_195957.jpg
20140331_200117.jpg
20140331_200056.jpg
20140331_200213.jpg
20140331_200511.jpg
TEKNETICS T2 SE plus X-POINTER
2016
Silver coins- 233
Other silver- 13
Gold- 1
Sovereigns-0
Spendies -$119.00
Back to top
LBD  
Posted : Tuesday, 1 April 2014 12:36:30 AM(UTC)
LBD

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/06/2012(UTC)
Posts: 101
Man
Laos
Location: PhuBia...for a change

Thanks: 22 times
Was thanked: 43 time(s) in 33 post(s)
you should not have washed the smaller one in Coke Cola... it corroded away

But that is the difference, the one is corroded thiner and and the same time the edge is corroded down making the diameter smaller....

Where did you find it? Could be interesting to check the ph of the soil...
Back to top
Mudwiggle  
Posted : Tuesday, 1 April 2014 6:33:15 AM(UTC)
Mudwiggle

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered, Moderators
Joined: 22/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 742
New Zealand

Thanks: 182 times
Was thanked: 683 time(s) in 317 post(s)
I've had a couple like that out of acidic 'swamps'. One was so thin it was almost foil - only ID'd it as a penny by metal composition.
The diameter reduces due to the extra surface area exposed at the edge.
Back to top
number8wire  
Posted : Tuesday, 1 April 2014 8:01:34 AM(UTC)
number8wire

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/06/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,175
Man
New Zealand
Location: Christchurch

Thanks: 913 times
Was thanked: 880 time(s) in 425 post(s)
Ok....Firstly, no Cola involved. Secondly, this is a domain that I have lifted probably close to 100 pennies and half pennies out of. All have been a similar depth of between 5 to 8 inches. All, without exception have been in what you would call 'normal' park condition...except this one.
Just seems really odd that this is so corroded compared to all others taken from the same area....some within feet of this one and in exactly the same soil conditions.
TEKNETICS T2 SE plus X-POINTER
2016
Silver coins- 233
Other silver- 13
Gold- 1
Sovereigns-0
Spendies -$119.00
Back to top
Metal Kiwi  
Posted : Tuesday, 1 April 2014 8:33:11 AM(UTC)
Metal Kiwi

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC)
Posts: 1,210
Man
Location: Auckland

Thanks: 498 times
Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)
The comment about the corrosion affecting the diameter could have some bearing.
However can I see a difference in the bend of Britannia's outstretched arm.
Could be that it is from a different mint than we usually find and so a different die.

There was quite a lot of counterfeit coinage in the late 1800's - early 1900's but it was
usually the silver coins I believe. Papers Past has several references.


MK
Back to top
WWW BLOG