Got these today from a coin shop for $50, which works out to about 70 cents per coin. The only one I've IDed so far (not pictured) was a Kingdom of Napoleon 1 centismo from 1807. The shopkeeper thought most of these were older, maybe 1500s from around Italy for many of them. These are in pretty rough shape, but any suggestions as to what some of them might be or what's a good resource to ID them would be welcome. I'm happy to take a better photo front and back of any individual ones by row/column if that would help. Thanks!
Yeah, I think a lot of them are probably late Renaissance. The one I happened to be able to pick out was Napoleon because I recognized his profile, but I think most of the rest are a lot older.
I do see a possible match for the second coin in the third row. https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces105622.html Edit: @The Eidolon if I were in your position I'd post individual images of the coins with the most apparent traces of lettering.
Second photo, next-to-bottom row, second full coin in, I can read MARC VEN, which may be referring to the city of Venice and its patron Saint Mark. Sorry, that's all I can guess.
Nice catch, thanks! I can only make out "DUX VIII" on the obverse, but the coat of arms looks the same. Reverse is too worn to read much of anything, and has a weird indent that looks kind of like a counterstamp. I'll try to take better pictures of a few of the clearer coins eventually.
I believe I may have another match for you. The remaining lettering on the fourth coin in the second row appears similar to one of these Austrian coins on Numista. https://en.numista.com/catalogue/in...&f=&g=&tb=y&tc=y&tn=y&tp=y&tt=y&cat=y&ct=coin
Thanks! You have a good eye for this. I think this one could be the match: Margrivate of Burgau 1/4 Kreuzer 1772-8 The reverse is not very clear, but the front matches pretty well. 19 mm dia.
Second page, 3rd row, last column: Switzerland, 1850, 2 Rappen about 20 mm dia which is why I think it's a 2 and not a 1. Back is unreadable
Judging by the obverse design it could either be a billon 10 or 20 Rappen since the diameter isn't all that different on both denominations.
Ah, I checked the diameter more closely, and I think you are right. It's a closer fit to the billon 10 rappen than to the 2 or the 20. The color is also more greyish than is typical for old copper, so billon makes sense. The shield has a concave curve on both sides which the 1 and 2 don't have but the 10 and 20 do. Thanks!
OK, I took some more detailed individual photos. The quality is pretty terrible, sorry. I'm having trouble getting them in sharp focus on the worn copper. r = row#, c=column# so I can keep track of which was which. Some of my rough guesses on visible parts of the text included. Any wild guesses even would be much appreciated! Will try to improve my photo setup and take more later. r6c7 "ARC.VIN" r3c1 "BO VIA OCFT" r4c5 "V.V SESN" r6c8 crown over a loop like a double figure eight r6c10 "VV CIVI"
R6C7: I believe @Parthicus suggested it was Venetian in origin. Here are some possibilities: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/in...&f=&g=&tb=y&tc=y&tn=y&tp=y&tt=y&cat=y&ct=coin. R3C1: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/in...&f=&g=&tb=y&tc=y&tn=y&tp=y&tt=y&cat=y&ct=coin R4C5: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces115590.html R6C8: Could I have some measurements? R6C10: Some clearer photos and measurements would help in identifying it. Edit: R6C10 might be a low-purity coin silver based on the color.
You are right! That was enough to get me started. I am pretty sure it's a Venetian 6 Bagattini = 1/2 soldo, 1619 It's a lot easier once I figured out the correct orientation.
r3c1: I agree with the Papal States. Date is hard to read. Maybe 1609? 1.81 g and 21 mm, but it's pretty worn r4c5: Modena! Fun, I've actually visited there and seen a balsamic vinegar maker. r6c8: 1.65 grams, about 14 to 16 mm diameter. It's kind of rhomboid, so the smallest diameter is 14 mm and 16 mm at the corners. I wish I could look up that double figure eight monogram under the crown, but I don't even know what to call it r6c10: Here's some ugly photos with oblique lighting to show surface texture. Thanks for all of your help! I'm making progress...
This looks like a fun lot to research - and a good price too. I like to buy ancients in lots like this - it is affordable and fun to figure out. Whenever I get unattributed coins I first try a Google image searches with the legend. It is amazing how often this works. I typed in "bologna coin ae" and got a few hits - the r3c1 "BO VIA OCFT" might be similar to this one, from a Vcoin listing (although yours seems to have a 1600s date): Italian Papal States. Bologna. Pope Clement XI (1700-1721). AE Quattrinino 1713. F/VF. https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/co...1_ae_quattrinino_1713_fvf/329105/Default.aspx Even if not an exact match, yours does seem to be Papal States, Bologna.
R6C8: It appears to be a 2 Denari from either the Duchy of Savoy or the Kingdom of Sardinia, like the coin below. https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces135635.html R6C10: What is the diameter of this coin? Otherwise, I'm quite stumped as to what it is. However, I believe it may be French due to what appears to be a fleur-di-lis.