Please help with my newp: 1780 Maria Theresa Gold Death Medal

OffMetal

I normally collect only lightside stuff, but this caught my eye today at the local show...





Sorry about my pics, it's hard to take pics of something smaller than a dime.

Could anyone please tell me about this coin? I bought this as a gold death medal, and that's all I know about it. Was this legal tender at one time? Is this a restrike or is it really from 1780? Is this worth anything other than melt?

Thanks for your help!!

Silvereagle82

Offmetal,

I can't find it in any of my reference books. It resembles a Hungarian Ducat but the giveaway that it is not a "legal tneder coin" is the markings on the sides of the shield below the Madonna and child on the reverse ... "@ and .585" . It may be gold plated ??

Stuart

OffMetal: On the actual coin does the color of the metal appear different to you (more silvery gray) in the more worn areas of the devices and the field than in the more protected areas of the field (as appears discernible in the images you have provided)?

If so, then perhaps SilverEagle82 is correct that this coin may be 14 karat (.585) gold plated, and not solid gold.

1jester

I've never seen one of these before, but there's no way that it is from the time of her death. The markings betray its status as some kind of copy, and I'd guess it's solid 14K gold, but you'd have to weigh it to find out.

Dollar

I do not feel comfortable with it. Good luck.