what is this coin worth and is it EE1887 (1894) Ethiopian Bir, King Menelik II

Can some one help me picked this up from a local market in the middle east. Can some one tell me what it is and how much its worth?

 

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It looks 'antiqued' (grease or oil or some such thing rubbed onto it to make it appear old) so I'm thinking its a fake.

 

No that was the picture, i wanted to make the lettering stand out so people can read it.

 

Compare to this one: http://www.ngccoin.com/poplookup/wo...egory=20785&worldcoinid=63581&FromSearch=true

The design is wrong. The reverse on yours has the pendant touching that symbol, on the one in the link there is a space. Placement of the end of the pendant is different.... There are many subtle differences that add up to a fake.

Check the weight. Should be 28.0749 grams

 

it weighs 28 grams.

 

the link is the same on the top but its the bottom that is where we have a difference the number that looks like 7 00 can some one help?

 

On the obverse, there is a symbol resembling a Roman numeral 2 ( II ) at the base of the bust near the rim, directly south of his jawline. There is no symbol there on the one in the link.

I have no expertise in these types of coins, just going on what I see and the resulting gut feeling.

Hope I'm wrong though; maybe a more knowledgeable person will come along.

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

As you will see in the coin there is a knick where the store owner had it tested for silver. anyways I got two coins from him this was the second one. This one i was easily able to identify.

 

The store owner had no clue what they where and bought them from a pilgrim as silver and sold them to me as silver. I did the magnet test, the ping test, weight and it was all correct. I paid $30 a coin. Although these are my first numismatic coins i collect silver and he is my regular supplier of bullion.

 

What does this one weigh?

 

24 grams

 

between 24-25 keeps changing

 

What does the edge look like?

 

clean

 

wait its got markings let me get the magnifying glass

 

Ok

 

"FERT" and a symbol is what i make out

 

It should have lettering on the edge: FERT - FERT - FERT

See here: http://www.ngccoin.com/poplookup/wo...ory=120877&worldcoinid=309244&FromSearch=true

I don't know why it would be underweight due to the lack of wear......

I cannot see whether there are issues with the denticles due to out of focus photos, but the melt value of both coins combined is between $32-$33 US. If he is your primary bullion supplier and sold these to you as bullion I would be concerned knowing you paid twice melt value for these.

The chop mark he put in would seriously effect numismatic value. Why didn't he chop both coins to check for silver? Does he not have internet or books to look them up, because the numismatic value far outweighs melt value. Something just doesn't add up..... If they ARE real, I'd go buy all of them. Clean him out! It's too difficult to tell though from these photos which is why I asked some questions. Good luck! Resell just one and you could buy a camera capable of quality photos.