OK, Darkside whizkid ID gurus... here ya go... identify THIS one!

lordmarcovan

At least dating it won't be too difficult.

newbiecollector

You aint getting away that easy

lordmarcovan

Sssh! I knew you'd already ID'ed it but I wanted 'em to guess!

Sapyx

Don't you just hate it when this sort of thing happens?

OK, if I had to try to ID this one, I'd start with France, which was my gut reaction when I saw it. The double tournois is about American-cent-sized, but that denomination was almost out of fashion in 1656; there was a final issue struck that year (KM#193). Unfortunately, KM193 isn't illustrated, so I can't say what the date on those looks like. The 3 deniers or laird also seems to be common enough in that date, but they're a bit bigger than a cent.

Scotland would have been my second guess, but I can't see any dated coppers from the 1650's.

Does it look truly copperish, or might it be billon?

lordmarcovan

<< <i>Don't you just hate it when this sort of thing happens? >>


Usually, but not in this case- I rather like the "mystery whatzit" aspect of this one.

It could be billon, I suppose.

I too thought about the double tournois but aren't those usually a little thicker? I haven't had any of them for a while.

This thing is pretty dang thin, like a hammered coin would be. I don't know if it was a hammered or milled coin originally. It is pretty round- I suspect it was milled.

lordmarcovan

Oh, here 'tis with its companions, in a small lot I bought on eBay.

TwoKopeiki

Could be Spanish Maravedis .... Don't have any of my books at work, but the look of that date set something off in my head.

CIVITAS

Spanish Netherlands? It's always Spanish Netherlands.....

coachleonard

i detect a circular shape under the 1656 date. From that possible design element, my best guess would be a German States coin.