Counterstamped or machined GB penny arrived (BIG pics)

coinpictures

Got this in the mail today. After spending time examining the coin extensively with both
a 10x loupe and my USB microscope, I'm pretty convinced the third farthing image is
counterstamped and not machined. This would imply that whomever did the counterstamp
had one of the third farthing dies.

From the full coin shots, it looks like there might be a gap between the counterstamp
and the host coin, meaning the penny could have been machined and a plug with
the third farthing reverse inserted, but I cannot actually detect any gap, hence my
including the closeup shots taken via microscope. You can see that there are no seams
between the counterstamp and the host.

If it was machined and plugged, the tolerances used were very tight.

Definitely weird. But cool...

JoesMaName

That is a very cool coin, too bad the reasons behind it's creation seem to be lost.
Have you tried to weigh the coin? If counter stamped it should still be very close to issue weight.

If machined it should deviate a tad up or down - though not necessarily... However if it does
you'd have your answer.

Great photography by the way.

Hussulo

I agree great pictures, but I still don't believe it's a counterstamp.

If it was I would expect their to be more damage to the obverse due to the force used to counterstamp the third farthing reverse onto the coin.
As found on the counterstamped 8r's.


The only way I can think of that you would get round the problem of damaging the obverse is if you placed the Penny into its original obverse die before striking it. This may prevent the loss of detail to the obverse, but is a highly unlikely scenario.

You could always send it to Robert Matthews for analysis:

http://www.coinauthentication.co.uk/

Hus

coinpictures

<< <i>That is a very cool coin, too bad the reasons behind it's creation seem to be lost.
Have you tried to weigh the coin? If counter stamped it should still be very close to issue weight.

If machined it should deviate a tad up or down - though not necessarily... However if it does
you'd have your answer.

Great photography by the way. >>



Thanks. Coin weighs 8.93 grams, according to my scale, which according to Krause, is about a half gram light (should be 9.45 grams).

So apparently it is machined, although how or why is beyond me...

trozau

Amazing photos.

CaptHenway

You can very clearly see gaps between the smaller coin and the host coin. As a former authenticator, I am quite familiar with the gap between a host coin and an added mint mark. You can see something like that all around the smaller coin.

A good machinist can rout out a hole to any specific diameter, in this case that of the smaller coin. Put a drop of glue on the back of it, drop it into the hole and tap it into place with the end of a wooden dowel and the coin fits like a glove. Hit the wood hard enough and you can even tighten up the metal.

TD

coinpictures

Still begs the question why someone would do such a thing...

Ehh, for $20 I'm not complainin'.

Hussulo

Its definitely worth $20 for the novelty value alone.
I think some people have a lot of time on their hands to make such items, but its a neat item nonetheless.

pendragon1998

If it was counterstamped, wouldn't there be evidence of metal flowing outward from the insert or some other evidence of metal stress?

coinkat

I think this is so cool... congrats... nice item. I think you did very well

AuldFartte

That's one of the coolest novelty items I've seen around here. I think $20 was well spent

... and I fully agree with the others: Great photos !!!

Now, what camera/lense combo did you use ???

coinpictures

<< <i>That's one of the coolest novelty items I've seen around here. I think $20 was well spent

... and I fully agree with the others: Great photos !!!

Now, what camera/lense combo did you use ??? >>



Uhh... it's strictly amateur point-and-shoot stuff. I don't know enough about photography to use add-on lenses, etc. I've never used an SLR.

The camera is a 7-megapixel Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom that I bought from Dell three years ago.

The extreme closeups are done with a DinoLite 411T USB Microscope that I gave a brief review on in this thread (BROADBAND WARNING!!).

For showing overdates, VAMs, die cracks, and other anomalies, the DinoLite is far, FAR, easier than trying to fight the camera and lighting...