What is this?

Blackhawk

I have posted this here before, but want to give it a bit more exposure in the chance that a new forum member may have seen one like it and could shed some light on it. It's the size of a US nickel, and there has been opinion that it may be made from a buffalo nickel. The theme would indicate a French orgin. It appears pretty beat up or worn. Take note of the style of the engravers initials...they look a lot like the ones that are on the aluminum WWII era French coins. Any ideas/speculation on what this is?

ormandh

I can't help you with this coin, but I have to ask you how it is you come across these wonderful obscure coins? I myself love the unknown. You seem to have more of these types than I am able to come across. How do you find them? -Dan

Blackhawk

I've come across some of them in lots that I've bought from Ebay...others have shown up at coin shops that I frequent.

coachleonard

hmm, henry IV was a 1500's french king, but the legend lettering doesnt look 16th century

coachleonard

also looks like initials or something etched into the face of the obverse and reverse

Blackhawk

Relatively speaking, I don't think that the piece is very old...as you said, the lettering looks like it's after 1900, maybe a little earlier is possible I guess. One thought that I had is that if it were made in the US, normally the name would be spelled HENRY, where in France it's HENRI. It looks to me like it's HENRI on the coin, but the last letter is shaped in such a way that it could be a Y if you use some imagination.

sumnom

Are these hobo nickels?

ajaan

They do look like hobo nickels.

heinlein99

<< <i>They do look like hobo nickels. >>



Does that refer to regular nickels that have been defaced/partially melted for some other use?

Blackhawk

While the photos do not make it appear so (different tints due to lighting at the time the photos were taken), the pictures are of different sides of the same piece. It would be pretty elaborate for a hobo nickel, but it can't be ruled out...the lettering appears to be in the same place as that of a nickel, at least on the side with Henry(i).

lordmarcovan

Hobo nickels were, of course, hand engraved. This medallion thingie looks struck. Overstruck on a Buffalo nickel, yeah, OK. I can see that, maybe.

Interesting. Never seen anything like it. Musta been part of some series, eh?

dcamp78

There looks to be a makers mark on both sides AND they spelled Charlemagne correctly. I'd say it's a medal.

Big Dave

lordmarcovan

Oh, it's absolutely a medal and not a coin- I'm fairly confident on that score.

(...at least the overtype. It could be struck over a coin, but the kings' heads are part of the design of a medal and not a coin, I reckon.)

ormandh

It is a hobo nickel. If you look at the first picture compared with a buffalo nickel you can see where the Indian's face outline used to be. -Dan

lordmarcovan

But is it a truly carved hobo nickel, or an overstruck Buffalo nickel? I wish we could see closer pics of the details that show any traces of the Buffalo nickel design. If that is hand-carved, consider me impressed.

newbiecollector

Is this pic too large for detail?

Blackhawk

I also posted this piece on another forum and a member there (maybe here too?) did some investigative work on medals with similar likenesses that impressed me. Take a look...

CP thread

Weiss

Some amazing detective work there.