Got an e-mail about identifying a coin

satootoko

described this way:



<< <i>The shape is irregular at best, appears to have been weighed and stamped possibly.

On one side there is a shield of arms sectioned into four, each of the four having an object in that I can’t make out. Centered below the shield is the number “53” but the first two digits, assuming it’s a date, are not there, nor is there room for them. Around all of this is a border of small dots, that appeared to at one time to have writing outside of it.

On the other side there is what appears to be writing, but I can only make out a few letters, or what I think look like letters. I am assuming that it’s not English. There is no face or obvious design, to me it looks like there was just writing on this side of the coin, maybe a pillar or something to separate the letters.

The coin is silver in color, possibly in make-up as well, and about as big as a nickel, but not quite as thick. >>



Early Spanish Colonialor

lathmach

Ah yes, I have some of those too. When you figure out what it is, let me know too.

Ray

satootoko

<< <i>Ah yes, I have some of those too. >>

My original correspondent didn't provide any photos. Can you?

GDJMSP

As to what it is I have no idea, but based on that description it's not a Spanish colonial.

Weiss

Sounds a little like a quarter-guinea apothecary weight. Used to counter-balance the scales for measuring potions, powders, etc:





Metal detectorists find them periodically, and have posted similar pieces/requests on some of the detecting forums over the years.

Colin Cook Coins (where these images were snagged)

Aethelred

I get tons of "what is this" e-mails. I try my best to answer as many as I can, but I know I miss many.

wybrit

Most of my emails are "how much is my collection worth?" I really hate to be honest in some of the replies, because, sadly, most of the collections are just common stuff.

Aethelred

We get a lot of that at the shop Wybrit. The ones that are really hard are the collections that were purchased from Littleton and such, you know the person has paid >3x what the stuff is really worth.

wybrit

We get a lot of that at the shop Wybrit.

I've seen a lot of that at shops. Typically, it's some older gent who wants to get an idea of what his worn-out wheat pennies are worth or some such thing. It's even tougher there because you have to answer a question right away. At least with an email, there's some time to put together a thoughtful/tactful response.

MSD61

<< <i>I get tons of "what is this" e-mails. I try my best to answer as many as I can, but I know I miss many. >>



Aethelred, It's been me.... I promise to stop sending you any more strange emails about metal discs I have found.