Is there a 'copper' variant of the 5 frang Charlotte 1949 ?

Dear all, hello

I recently got hold of a ‘copper’ 5 Frang Luxemburg 1949. It measures 25,5 mm and weighs 7,07 grams. Problem is that that coin is normaly made of Copper Nikkel 5 Francs - Charlotte - Luxembourg – Numista. In the catalogue there is a ‘copper version’ but as ‘essai’ (clearly stamped on the coins) : 5 Francs - Charlotte (Essai) - Luxembourg – Numista

But now I have in my hands a coin that seems to be copper, without ‘essai’ on it. What can this be. Is there such a copper coin ? Or is it an essai and for whatever reason essai is not stamped on it ? Or is it not a copper coin but a copper nickel coin that for whatever reason has become copper colored ?  I have no clue.

I add the picture of the coin and also a ‘blow up’ under the microscope of the place where ‘essai’ should be but isn't.

I would be grateful for all possible explanations for this ‘mistery’. Thanks in advance, Clement

I know nothing about this specific coin so everything is speculation.

If the original really had only a mintage of 50 it is extremely unlikely that you just stumble upon it in the wild. Also it looks like there is an incuse AI from ESSAI, not raised like it should be. To me it seems to indicate a fake or with the same weight someone just a plated a circulation coin and attempted to stamp ESSAI into it.

hi, 

thanks for responding. 

lt is possible somebody wanted to make it look like an essai by stamping it. But that doesn't explain why it looks like a copper coin.

It puzzles me

Clement 

Like I said someone might have copper plated a normal coin as it ways the same (is 2 g heavier than the essai one).

Possibly, but that would mean that somebody has the technical skills to coat a coin in copper, but is not capable to stamp essai in it.  Not the easiest and not the most profitable choice for a forger.

Let’s wait what if other hypothesis pop up.

Clement 

I certain circumstances, copper-nickel may take a copper colour. Imo that is most likely what happened to this coin.

For what it's worth, it's very easy to coat a coin in copper.