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Encased 1894 Italian 20 Centesimi

Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?


It is an encased 1894 Italian 20 Centesimi. The encasement is plain, and I'm unsure of its composition. I also can't say that the encasement is contemporary, but based on the patina I assume that it has been on there a long time.

Does anyone have any idea why this might have been done? Did it serve some purpose or was someone just bored in "shop class"?

Philippians 4:4-7

Comments

  • SapyxSapyx Posts: 1,976 ✭✭✭✭✭

    In some cultures, using coins at the base of cups or bowls is commonly done. Haven't seen anything like it from Italy before.

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  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 23,896 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Possible use as a casino chip?

    All glory is fleeting.
  • Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 8,620 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Espresso cups are small, maybe a saucer?

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  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 12, 2023 7:21PM

    Very interesting. With the color similarity between the coin and the encasement, if you’d have told us it was some kind of die trial on an oversized planchet, I might have believed you.

    I do think that patina indicates it’s been in there a long time, and is likely contemporary.


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  • angelo43angelo43 Posts: 61 ✭✭✭

    I have seen it before and it is a coin encased in a metal ring for what reason I can't remember. I have seen 1860's copper in these

  • UpGrayeddUpGrayedd Posts: 495 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's been a long week, but I finally had time to dig this out and examine it some more. I'm still not sure what I have or why it was made, but I do believe that it is an encasement not a trial strike, etc. based on the metal overlap seen on the reverse.

    The coin itself is supposed to weigh 4.0 grams (at least in unc. condition) with a diameter of 21 mm.

    The coin and encasement weigh 14.43 grams with a diameter of 36 mm.

    I am still not sure of the metal composition, but it is not magnetic.

    Philippians 4:4-7

  • ELuisELuis Posts: 806 ✭✭✭✭

    Maybe it is a vintage florentine disc or flat dish with a coin on the center, I have seen something similar in Florence Italy.
    Similar to this:

  • ELuisELuis Posts: 806 ✭✭✭✭

    and btw the image i posted it is from a non flat dish, that happens that also it is now posted on the BST
    https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1086597/fs-italy-coronation-medal-mariana-anna-augusta-ferdinand-i

  • angelo43angelo43 Posts: 61 ✭✭✭

    It's definitely not a trial strike. I just sold the Meduno collection at HA.com last week and can tell you it's not in Pagani or Montenegro or any other prova books of Italy

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