Any knowledge on this coin?

[AndrewSL76]

The pictures coin just sold on eBay and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about it?

The listing descriptions stated that it was the same on both sides? I’ve seen the 2014, 2015 and 2016 trial coins but never anything like this?

Thoughts?

Cheers.

[Serendipity]

@AndrewSL76, I don’t know if this is the same type of coin but another forum was talking about a similar coin back in 2016: http://www.predecimal.com/forum/topic/11089-royal-mint-2015-12-sided-one-pound-trial-piece/

Edited April 13, 2020 by Serendipity

[AndrewSL76]

35 minutes ago, Serendipity said:

@AndrewSL76, I don’t know if this is the same type of coin but another forum was talking about a similar coin back in 2016: http://www.predecimal.com/forum/topic/11089-royal-mint-2015-12-sided-one-pound-trial-piece/

That discussion relates to the 2015 dated trial coin. I appreciate you sharing that though. Many thanks. 

[Serendipity]

@AndrewSL76, I’ve got this visual search engine app for coins which I sometimes use when I come across unfamiliar coins but can’t seem to get any fix on your coin.

 

Edited April 14, 2020 by Serendipity

[Serendipity]

The best advice that I can give you if no help is forthcoming is to email photos of your coin to Baldwin’s who specialise in rare and numismatic coins. They are extremely helpful. I can assure you they will email you back. They don’t charge for the service. I have first-hand experience of Baldwin’s because I bought a rare Douro shipwreck sovereign from them: https://www.baldwin.co.uk/valuations/

Edited April 14, 2020 by Serendipity

[AndrewSL76]

Thanks again, but this isn’t a rare or ancient coin. It’s a trial coin either struck by the Mint or created overseas in response to the vast sums being received for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 trial coins during 2017-2019 on eBay.

This one has the same design but is a round coin. I have now emailed the RM For information and will let you know their response when it comes in. Thanks again.

Edited April 14, 2020 by AndrewSL76
Dates all skewed!!

[AndrewSL76]

I've had a response from the RM who have confirmed that the museum remains closed and so they are unable to reply substantively to my query at the moment. I am going to forward them the coin once the museum re-opens. In the meantime, here are some more pictures so that you can see the size of the coin and the milling around the edge.

It is too big to be a 10p trial coin (though it has the same depth. It is the diameter of a £2 coin, however, but does not have the depth. It is around 3/4 the depth of the current £2.

Any thoughts from anyone on this one?

 

[dicker]

Hi

That is a bit of a strange one....

I have seen bi-metallic one pound and two pound trial pieces but definitely none like this with a non circular inner ring. 
 

I go here to find fakes and could not find it...http://www.thefakepoundcoindatabase.co.uk

It is a little conflicting because it looks pretty well made.

Very interested to find out if it genuine or a fantasy piece. 
 

Best

Dicker

[AndrewSL76]

I’m just bumping this as I’ll be sending the coin to the Royal Mint Museum tomorrow (it is open again for submissions). I will update when I hear back.

Once I get the letter back from the museum I will share it.

Does anyone have any further thoughts?

Cheers.

[AppleZippoandMetronome]

The only thing I could guess - and this isn't going to be at all helpful and might have already been considered - is that it is a trial coin made for a different market. With whats been posted already it seems clear that its not UK coinage so with the Royal Mint minting coins for many other countries I can only imagine its a trial for a different country (well that or its a counterfeit as was originally suggested). One could look at the coins from the various countries the Royal Mint mints coins for and see if something is a visual match but that could be tedious. Fingers crossed Royal Mint are quick to get back to you and solve the mystery!

[stackspot]

Sizewise how does it compare with the old 10 pence/2 shilling?

[AndrewSL76]

On 09/08/2020 at 12:30, stackspot said:

Sizewise how does it compare with the old 10 pence/2 shilling?

Sorry for the delayed response. I’ve only just seen this question. Size wise it’s a bit smaller. Look at the pictures above re the comparison with the £1 coin. 

[AndrewSL76]

So, update. I’ve only just sent the coin off as life got in the way a wee bit. It was sent yesterday and I have a bit of a story to share.

So. I walked around to the post office in Peckham...near to where I live. The queue was massive and I just couldn’t be bothered as it snakes around a building site and the social distancing is a joke with the busy traffic and the prams and kids on electric scooters on the narrow pavement. Across the road from the Library is a DHL Office. I thought it can’t be too much more expensive so went in. No queue at all and very friendly staff. It was £14 and I figured it saved me coming out again later on and I’d be paying £7-8 with the Royal Mail anyway. I asked them to send it and paid the money.

This morning I tracked the parcel to see where it was and out of curiosity wanted to know if it was nearly in Wales.

How on earth does a logistics company take a parcel from South-East London and deliver to South Wales? Anyone?! 

Would you believe me if I said that the parcel was taken from Peckham to East Midlands Airport, then flown to Bristol Airport and then trucked to Llantrisant?

I guess the bigger picture needs to be considered re their distribution totals, but still, a bizarre journey for a little coin.

Updates to follow. The process at the Royal Mint Museum takes about 8-10 weeks......

[Booky586]

The manufacturing processes involved in making this are quite complex for what is intended to be a circulating coin. Cutting an eight sided hole through the outer blank and then shaping the inner blank to fit exactly is unusual and probably expensive to do.

I'd be surprised if a forger would go to these lengths (and expense) to make a fake and then hope for a profit.

[dicker]

@AndrewSL76This is a topic that I am very much looking forward to seeing an answer to.  I have looked at this again and am still conflicted about genuine vs fantasy piece.  
 

I have a spectacular one pound bimetallic coin error that I will eventually send to the RM for an explanation   It is definitely genuine (came in a sealed batch of one pound coins).  So am interested in hearing your experiences .

Do let us know Andrew!

Best

Dicker

[AndrewSL76]

Thanks @dicker it is bizarrely exciting to wait and find out!

The submission information I received from the Royal Mint Museum was:

If you would like to submit your coin for examination, please send the piece by Recorded Delivery to Chris Barker, Assistant Curator, at the address given below enclosing a short letter regarding your query and a return address.

Please be aware that there is a charge for this service of £20.00 per coin, which will cover the cost of the authentication service along with the price of return by Recorded Delivery. The balance is payable by bank transfer or cheque.

We will return your coin by Special Delivery with a letter detailing our findings in approximately 6-8 weeks, although as stated these timings could be slightly affected due to current circumstances.  Please find a document attached to this email detailing how payment can be made.

The document they refer to is attached to this message and the address is included in that document too.

Cheers!

Authentication - Ways to Pay.pdf

[Stuntman]

Any update yet @AndrewSL76?

I really hope that it's a genuine RM trial piece but my gut instinct is that it may be a fake.

[AndrewSL76]

Nothing as yet. They say it can take up to eight weeks and it’s only been four or five.
I did speak with the Museum last week to see if it was possible to get an update. They replied: 

“The recent local lockdown in the area has restricted our access to the office slightly, but I can confirm that your coin is being safely stored in the museum and is awaiting authentication.”

I will update when I hear from them; hopefully by the end of October.

[AndrewSL76]

Just to update.

As should be expected, this process is being delayed by the ongoing lockdown in Wales. The eight weeks have now passed, and the coin remains in the safe at the Mint Museum. I am hoping to have this back with confirmation or otherwise of authenticity by the end of November.

I will update further when I have the coin back.

Cheers.

[dicker]

Thanks Andrew - this is a mystery coin that I am very keen on knowing about!

All the best

Dicker

[Mox]

Is it the same on both sides?

[Stuntman]

The more I look at it, the less I think it's genuine.
I hope I am wrong!

[AndrewSL76]

6 hours ago, Mox said:

Is it the same on both sides?

Yes.

38 minutes ago, Stuntman said:

The more I look at it, the less I think it's genuine.
I hope I am wrong!

What makes you think it isn’t genuine? Any clues?

[Stuntman]

^^^ I think the design for the crown is too crude, the shield motifs just look 'wrong' (the harp in particular), and the central metallic disc is not circular - whereas I would expect it to be circular in the same way as the bimetallic £1 and £2 coins are.

 

But just my opinion, obviously 🙂

[AndrewSL76]

1 hour ago, Stuntman said:

^^^ I think the design for the crown is too crude, the shield motifs just look 'wrong' (the harp in particular), and the central metallic disc is not circular - whereas I would expect it to be circular in the same way as the bimetallic £1 and £2 coins are.

 

But just my opinion, obviously 🙂

The logo design is the exact same as the one used by the Royal Mint. Including the crown and harp.

Also, the fact the central section is not round is not unusual at all and actually is suggestive of a more expensive and elaborate method. Something that I doubt a forger would waste their time doing.

Just my opinion too, and of course I am biased, as I would love this to be authentic!

Thanks!!