So I believe I have a Escudo Spanish Gold Coin - had the coin for years and years. I recently ran across it again and was curious to its value. Here are a few pics. Browsed the forums and look forward to hearing any info you guys can give Thanks!
How in the world can you tell that from those pics? Sanjo I would take the coin to someone more knowledgeable than someone sitting behind a keyboard looking at a picture of it. Maybe a well respected dealer in your town would be a good place to start.
I can't tell for certain that it is a fake from those pics. And I didn't say I could. But I can say that it looks like a fake based on those pics. As for taking it to a dealer, there are probably only a 100 or so people in the entire country who say with any certainty that the coin is a fake or not, even if they examine it in hand. Now if he really wants to know, then he should send the coin to Dan Sedwick or Rick Ponterio. Either of them can say with certainty.
Can't you do density test to verify it is gold or not and take a look at the coin thru microscope to check for tell tell signs of casting?
Dan Sedwick is currently auctioning a number of gold escudos. Assuming your coin is real, you could take a look at their online catalog and estimated values to determine if there are any that match your coin in weight, markings, and condition to get a rough idea of your coin's value. http://auction.sedwickcoins.com/Treasure-Auction-10-Daniel-F-Sedwick-LLC_a10597?m=all&ls=1&le=111
Thank you for the info and link Glad I got a few good replies on this thread - was about to write it off. Thank you all again.
Problem is, many of the fakes are made of real gold. And they are often of the correct weight. The value of these coins is not the gold itself, but the numismatic value. As for the microscope, the signs of of it being cast are visible in the pictures we already have. Thus my original comment.
Compare to a couple of real ones.....it doesn't look good to me. http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...ot=22461&Val=68132e8968c2342a0b6465e5c0aba37d http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...ot=22459&Val=e567b50d35520384ca77e0317d8279e7
While I can't tell from the picture it's authentic or not but I can tell you to take the good advice of the others above and take it to an expert to get it looked at. These have been widely counterfeited and outright faked. I know that they are supposed to weigh an exacting amount that you could probably find out with a quick google search. Best of luck to you Friend! -Jay
Actually even if it is fake it still might be gold. I know that they faked them using real gold too. Might pay off to weigh it.
The coin has a grainy, rough surface, for one thing. Struck gold coins should have a smoother surface.
I emailed Daniel Frank Sedwick and he actually replied quite quickly (yay) Here is the reply I got for those who are curious: I have a scale - as to it's 100% accuracy I can't attest but it weighed in at 3.2 grams which is what they are supposed to be at. He speculated the value but I will keep that tidbit to myself Thanks again for the info guys - maybe I will will get lucky and come across another piece of lost treasure.
