How to ID a random coin?

Hi all, 

usual story, i've inherited around 1000 coins + bank notes + other which i'm setting up an Axial photo rig. My question is NOT about value, it's about identification - what is it?

- usually a coin will have $1, or ‘Spain’ or some clue. This doesn't, except the rear which looks like 100 others

- i've looked through what i think is everthing, but without a description on what it is, it's just a mystery coin…..

- now i've cheated a bit because i want to learn ‘how to’ as this is going to happen so many times. BUT I have the 2x2 it came in and it has a couple of Dad's notes that will give you a hand - a catelogue # i think, but i can't find the relevant grading/ catelogue system on the internet and a coin date and grading on the 2x2 - i'll hold off until you need the info and you can already see that.

I've atttached the coin images (sorry not from my SLR), including weight (7.98 +/- 0.01), diameter (21.5mm) and a basic 2x2 slide with the same on it. Looks like solid gold.

I would love to see someone work out what it is and how? As i said for my information on all the other random coins. I've added an extra Obverse so you get to see one clue……

Thankyou in advance!

Choppo

Hello and welcome to Numista!

You have a lot of information on this coin but you only need 2 things. Great Britain (BRITT. on the coin) and the 1918 date.

Search coins for these two things and you get 

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?e=united-kingdom&r=&st=147&cat=y&im1=&im2=&ru=&ie=&ca=3&no=&v=&a=1918&dg=&i=&b=&m=&f=&t=&t2=&w=&mt=&u=&g=&se=&c=&wi=&sw=

See anything familiar? Of course you can narrow it down some with the additional information and/or an image search.

Image search alone:

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?r=&st=147-150-149&cat=y&im1=676ed8ba4a867.jpg&im2=&ru=&ie=&ca=3&no=&v=&a=1918&dg=&i=&b=&m=&f=&t=&t2=&w=&mt=&u=&g=&se=&c=&wi=&sw=

which in this case is better because of the mint mark on your coin.  So which one is it?

You're still left with the question is it real or a copy.

How can I search the catalogue?

Wow, excellent!!! It was the BRITT (well everything on the Reverse) that i have no idea. Here is the original 2x2 (below) with my father's writing on it from… like 30 years ago. I have a Series of those Sovereigns (in date) to Cludo over. 

I'll have sooooo many more queries over the next year. For the moment, understanding the Reverse is top of my agenda, along with better use of the Search!

Back on topic - We have a winner!!! 

UK 1 Sovereign - George V (Bombay mint) ……. buuuutttt the P (which is one thing i've already learned and there seems to be heaps and heaps of these letter coins in this collection) is = P = Mintage mark = Perth. 

N#46001

You're still left with the question is it real or a copy.

Not sure other than to double check the diameter and in particular the weight?? Both of which are spot on. Assuming different metals would change the weight for a given size??? On the same search, it actually shows 

Any other way to tell without sending off for Grading etc?? It actually shows the equivalent fake below. Both diameter and weight give it away.

Here is the original 2x2 which made the final decision… any idea on the code he has used on the left of the card??

Thankyou again!!

EDIT: Looks like one of the better ones too - a good start and fun at the same time! lol

I think it is real too based on comparing it to a known real one, correct weight, diameter, color, etc.

So have you found the P mint mark on the coin?  Does the “winner” Bombay mint coin have a P mint mark? Is Perth in India?

I don't recognize that code. May be your Father's personal code.

This coin is somewhat strange as it was minted in so many different mints/countries. Most are not like that.

rsirian1

I think it is real too based on comparing it to a known real one, correct weight, diameter, color, etc.

 

So have you found the P mint mark on the coin?  Does the “winner” Bombay mint coin have a P mint mark? Is Perth in India?

 

I don't recognize that code. May be your Father's personal code.

1. I learned to research better on here :). There is actually a post/ thread about that exact coin being fake or not. Ended up with the same answer, so 3 of us agree!

2. I can see a dot or something - ill set up my macro SLR and confirm the P now. Ill post in an hour. I cant see them on the coin photos on-line which already tell you which letter it is!!

3. lol - haven't you been to Perth India? Very nice curry they make! Nice climate too.

Now here is where i show off my detective prowess you showed me. If you go into the coin data you will see in the lower section that it's tied up with WWI. The Indian mints were considered safe in the War, so they made the blanks and shipped them off everywhere. Closed their mints in 1919 - See quote from the coin data below about letters:

For issues with mintmark M, P or S below horse's right rear hoof, see Australia Sovereign Coinage (M = Melbourne mint, P = Perth mint, S = Sydney mint). 

For issues with mintmark SA below horse's right rear hoof, see South Africa Sovereign Coinage (Pretoria mint).
Issues with mintmark C below horse's right rear hoof were struck at the Ottawa mint under authority and instruction of the Royal Mint, London, and can be found listed under the UK.

For issues without mintmark below horse's right rear hoof, see United Kingdom

Thanks on the code. It had me stumped as i've researched them all and didn't correlate to anything on Google. Ill work on the photo of the letter - fingers crossed!

Thanks for the other link to the mint marks. Nothing on Aus except the ones on 5, 10, 20c which is very intersting.

A quick image on the one sheet showing how many ‘Mint Marks’ i'm going to track down. Havent even looked at the coins, i can just see…. S, on several and one M just one this one sheet. Also the P we are working on.

Now that would be a ‘P’. Next thing, i'm amazed how skilled my Dad and other enthusiasts (30-40 years ago) must of been to:

A. work out there is a mint mark in the first place and remember it

B. learn about the plathora of coins - must have subscribed to every available coin magazine he could find

B be able to see and identify the mint mark

C all pre-computers, walking around coin markets on the local park, i assume with a magnifying glass. I remember being dragged along with him, completly un-interested as a youngster in these coin markets all over the suburbs

That’s a lot of nice gold coins. 
 

So now you know which coin you have?

Certainly do, only by way of assistance from YOU,. THANKYOU!

More important how to use the Search and other features of this platform in the way it was intended. List of importance of detective work on an unknown coin. Mintage mark, i knew about them, but never pursued confirmation.

I'll set my camera up and start uploading my Catelogue here. Love the detective work, photos and storage into a database - very cool! You will hear alot from me (for better or worse) because i'm a sponge for knowledge.

You'll want to concentrate (from your 2x2 page view) on the top right coin, it appears to be George III against whom we (USA) fought in the Revolutionary war. The middle of the bottom row of gold show coins of Austria and Hungary (sell near gold value). If you need further info individual good photos will be required. The knowledge base of collectors has not really grown that much in the last 70 years but the collection of foreign coins increased considerably in the USA post WWII. The figure on the back of many British Empire coins features St. George Slaying the Dragon. Don't discount the silver coins in the collection, they could be worth a lot too (Photos!)

Good spotting - i'll split this post into a couple so they are no so lenghtly…

Good spotting, i've processed that coinng and came up with KM#609 (1 Guinea - George III 5th portrait; 'Spade' Guinea)

N#13158

The photos are all up in my Album, but ‘hidden’ for the moment incase i do something tragic. Maybe i should free that up so you guys can double check / laugh at me :

Coin of refrence below

Choppo

Next thing, i'm amazed how skilled my Dad and other enthusiasts (30-40 years ago) must of been to:

A. work out there is a mint mark in the first place and remember it

B. learn about the plathora of coins - must have subscribed to every available coin magazine he could find

B be able to see and identify the mint mark

I absolutely don't want to underestimate your dad's skills, but don't think, although there were hardly any computers and certainly no internet for most of the people, we already had a lot of information back then.

Here's a scan of my copy of the 1984 Krause and you can see in the upper right corner, in 1984 it was already the 10th edition, so they've started around 1975, about 50 years ago:

I'm pretty sure your dad would also have a Krause at some point. And when you look at the Australian sovereigns for example:

We already had the information which mint marks existed and where to find them (middle column at the bottom). And also the information which mintmarks existed in which year. So if he marked in his Krause what he had, he didn't have to remember it.

Of course, the rise of the Krause catalogs was a huge turning point, especially for date collectors. Before the existence of the Krause catalogs world collectors used “A Catalog of Modern World Coins” by R.S. Yeoman:

My copy is from 1972, but as you can see, that was already the 10th edition and at that time we also already have information about the mintmarks (green frame on the last picture).

Even in the 60's there was already enough information about the mintmarks, here's my 1962 copy of “Coins of the British World” by Robert Friedberg:

It’s only a year later but i read you message! Thankyou very much.

After an extended break, I’ll be back onto my photos and catalogue of mm collection early next year

talk soon!

cheers

steve