Assume this 1878 Prussian 20 Mark is fake - Need confirmation

Windycity

I am not a collector of foreign coins but know enough to usually identify them correctly. This one I'm guessing is a fake unless I am missing something. Dated 1878, and appears real but it is not made of gold. Am I missing something?

Pat

brg5658

Looks fake to me. Strangely, William II (pictured on the coin) didn't come to power until 1888. There doesn't even exist a genuine coin of this type with his likeness from 1878 (link here).

It is not unheard of to strike "trials" or "patterns" in copper, but I can't imagine why they would do this 10 years before William II even came to power.

In summary, my vote goes for "play money" or "fake".

mkman123

Can gold tone like that?

Pokermandude

I am not familiar with this series at all, but it looks like some sort of reproduction/fantasy piece to me.

Aethelred

Token or counter that probably dates to the WWI era.

ProofArtworkonCircs

Wilhelm II was not even first in line for the throne in 1878. He was second in line after his father who died 1888.
The coat of arms is also incorrect for 1878. They were thinner then. See the link previously given.
And where is the mintmark?

1509eric

this is a not good copy, even the letters look different, beside from the mistake about 10 years to early. Look a bit like copper?!

But, beside from this. That type of coin is one of the most counterfeit coin you can get in Germany!
Even now, when you buy it at the bank for bulion price you can not be sure is real...

from 1959 - 1962 a smart doctor found a hole in the law about restike coins. In that period the made a large numer of the 20 Mark Gold coins, different types, they are looking exactly like the real ones. Many where sold and even today nobody can garanty is a real one or not.
It was called the "Schmidt-Hausmann scandal"
Anyway, the copy ones are exatly same gold content, weight, and design like the real one.

coinpictures

<< <i>Token or counter that probably dates to the WWI era. >>



This. Especially if the size/weight is reduced compared to the real thing.