Tiny imitation half crown

1960NYGiants

Here's a tiny 12.8mm Lauer Nurnberg imitation half crown. We've had discussions on the various models but I don't recall mention of a catalogue reference for them. Is there a catalogue for these things? What would be the value of this piece?

Thanks in advance.

Piece is very dark, scanned at 600dpi and lightened to show detail:

Daltonista

Gene ~

The book you want is "Toy Coins" by David J. Rogers, 1990, published by Galata, who did the Withers masterpiece on Davis tokens a few years ago.

Another item of interest, although more along the lines of a pamphlet, is "The Counters of Nuremburg," by O.P. Eklund.

Try galata.co.uk for starters, and then Bill McKivor at The Copper Corner as a back-up.
May be some used out there (alibris.com, abe.com, bibliofind.com, powells.com, etc.)

Good luck!
Tom

1960NYGiants

Thanks Tom!

ColinCMR

i picked up one of these in a junk box a while back too. Could barely find anything online about them

ColinCMR

I have the same toy coin, however the letter C is missing from CROWN
I can't see the date on the scan, but is it 1887?

goldboy

Here is an excellent online source for world coins and "reference prices": World Coin Gallery

Send Don any photo and he will tell you what you have. This is a "must know" site for world coin finders and collectors.

1960NYGiants

<< <i>I have the same toy coin, however the letter C is missing from CROWN
I can't see the date on the scan, but is it 1887? >>



On the rev I see what looks to be an "18" on the left and an "8" on the right followed by a dot. At 1st I thought these were initials. I'm going to take it to work any photo it under very high power.

ColinCMR

Let me know any info you can dig up on these

All i can find is that Lauer was one of the bigger companies in Germany making toy world coins, especially from Germany and GB.

Apparently the helped show off their engravers' skills

theboz11

An article quoted from a 1975 "The Numismatic Circular" concerning these :

Lauer was a well known firm of die sinkers and engravers from Nuremberg in Germany. The firm produced counters in various forms in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. They produced sets of counters e.g. one Pfennig to 20 Marks , also Spanish and Belgium. From 1880's to about 1902 they produced counters based on English coinage. The counters were produced of uniform size- about 13mm and in the correct color for the denomination, copper-copper, silver-white metal etc. farthings to sovereigns were produced. It is believed that they were issued with packets of tea as an advertising gimmick. A common type has OBV: IMITATION L CHR LAUER.......REV: denomination with LAUER in exergue

The above type also occurs with 1897 to L of bust OBV: DIAMOND JUBILEE LAUER NURNBURG


I have a copper Lauer farthing in my collection.

1960NYGiants

Thanks Boz!

Here's a photo of the date 188? Looks like a filled die.