Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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Lot 1252 in Current Sedwick Auction.
See Online Auction Catalog
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When you look at this coin, what do you see? Does it look strange to you? It probably should.
I was browsing the current Sedwick online auction catalog, and every once in a while, a coin would stick out to me. I quickly browsed through a lot of coins, including ancient coins, coins of different centuries and different countries, different denominations and made of different materials, and featuring different designs, yet some of them just stuck out for some reason. They just looked strange somehow. And when I looked at the lost descriptions, I found they were described as "imitation" coins or cobs. The one shown above is one of those. Below is the lot description.
Caracas, Venezuela, "imitation cob" 2 reales, date "471" (early 1800s), quadrants of cross transposed, NGC AU 50, finest known in NGC census. Cal-749; KM-C13.1. 5.43 grams. Lightly toned over muted luster, with bold full details including 471 "date," two denominations (2) and "assayers" (M), three "mintmarks" (L), definitely one of the rarer "dates" for this series and a top-grade example as well. NGC #4771447-004.
We use a lot of different terms such as fantasy coin, fake, copy, reproduction or counterfeit. Sometimes those terms are used in a specific sense and sometimes a more general sense. For me a counterfeit is meant to deceive, while a fantasy coin is not. I suppose "imitation" is a general term, but I would not expect an imitation coin to be marked "copy" or anything like that. Maybe there is a numismatic dictionary that defines the term, but I couldn't find one.
Anyhow, if you become familiar with a large number of examples, those "strange" coins might jump out at you. It is easy to see what is strange about the coin shown above, but it might not be so easy to describe. It looks like it was made by an unskilled person, and they didn't bother to put a lot of effort into it, but in general terms, it just doesn't look right. If you are informed in an area, whether it is numismatics or some other area, certain things just won't look or sound "right."
One thing I should add, is that this coin, even though it is described as an imitation, that does not mean it is not worth anything. This one is old and tells a story. The auction estimate is $700 - $1000, and it already has a bid. Lot 1253 is similar. Check it out.
Here is another "imitation cob" that jumped out at me.
This one looks messy. One coin was struck over another coin, some of which shows through.
Anyhow, if you become familiar with a large number of examples, those "strange" coins might jump out at you. It is easy to see what is strange about the coin shown above, but it might not be so easy to describe. It looks like it was made by an unskilled person, and they didn't bother to put a lot of effort into it, but in general terms, it just doesn't look right. If you are informed in an area, whether it is numismatics or some other area, certain things just won't look or sound "right."
One thing I should add, is that this coin, even though it is described as an imitation, that does not mean it is not worth anything. This one is old and tells a story. The auction estimate is $700 - $1000, and it already has a bid. Lot 1253 is similar. Check it out.
Here is another "imitation cob" that jumped out at me.
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| Lot 834 in Current Sedwick Auction. |
This one looks messy. One coin was struck over another coin, some of which shows through.
Cartagena, Colombia, copper "imitation cob" 2 reales, fantasy date "111" (ca. 1815), unique, quadrants of cross transposed, struck over a Cartagena provisional copper 2 reales (1813-14), NGC MS 63 BN. Restrepo-118.1; KM-unl; Cal-unl. A very rare type dating to the retaking of Cartagena by royalist forces in 1815, using Cartagena provisional copper coins for host flans overstruck with "imitation" designs meant to resemble Lima (Peru) cob 2 reales but with fantasy dates, this one "111" being the only one known to us (missing in all important collections), dark chocolate-brown in color with bold details including full pillars and cross, full "111" date and mintmark L, also with bold CARTAGENA visible in legend from undercoin, exceptional grade for any variety, in fact the highest grade possible, a true numismatic trophy combining rarity and quality. NGC #48372006-001.
This one is also old and has a lot of history behind it. It is selling for a very good price.
I didn't plan to talk about imitation coins this morning, but these things just jumped out at me and I thought it was interesting. Sone copies or counterfeits can be worth a lot. If you look at enough examples, things that just don't look quite right will jump out at you.
There are a lot of curiosities to explore in the third session of the current Sedwick auction.
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I was planning on posting about some metal detector tests today. I'll get back to that some other day.
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It seems like the surfers are having the same problems that the detectorists are, and they are suffering withdrawal. Here is one sentence from an article on MagicSeaWeed that you might like to read.
Here is the link.
https://magicseaweed.com/news/surf-bans-public-shaming-and-the-art-of-civil-disobedience/11848/
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I mentioned cause of death the other day as it relates to what we are seeing as Covid-19 statistics. Tim M. sent this example.
My father, an Air Force veteran through out the "conflict" from 1957 through 1975 died of multiple cancers primarily agent orange specific leukemia. Death certificate states COPD.
That is one of the types of thing I was referring to. For data to be meaningful, it has to be coded consistently and reliably. Classification categories need to be clearly defined along with clear criteria for class inclusion.
In the past I've talked about the importance of definitions as they apply to metal detecting. How, for example, do you define success? If you are very clear about what you want to accomplish, your chance of success, as you define it, will be improved.
That is one of the types of thing I was referring to. For data to be meaningful, it has to be coded consistently and reliably. Classification categories need to be clearly defined along with clear criteria for class inclusion.
In the past I've talked about the importance of definitions as they apply to metal detecting. How, for example, do you define success? If you are very clear about what you want to accomplish, your chance of success, as you define it, will be improved.
Tim also said.
I have been reading your blog for years now, and truly enjoy the knowledge you share. I personally would be happy to pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee to continue to have the privilege of the continuation of the education you provide. '
Also I am completely on the same page as the sad state of people thinking beyond what media is promoting without any real scientific factual basis.
I was most gratified by Tim's reference to "education."
When I referred to subscription I wasn't necessarily talking about a fee, however I might be able to provide an upgraded level of specific timely service for a few folks that might find it worthwhile.
I'm still thinking about what I might want to do.
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The surf is supposed to be a touch bigger this week, but only up to around two or three feet.
As I've said some of the Indian River County beaches will reopen tomorrow. I'll be watching for St. Lucie County news.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
