Hello everyone, My grandfather, bless his heart, collected just about everything. Watches, stamps, coins, rocks, gems, cards, hotel soaps, well... anyway. In sorting through some old coins I was very curious about this one. I've determined it is an Elizabeth I shillling from the inscription (hail Google), likely a replica my grandparents picked up on their travels or in the shop they owned. I'm interested to know if anyone possesses a similar coin, if I'm right in my assumptions, and if it's worth enough for a collector to want. Otherwise it's a darling souvenir. Pictures below. Inscription reads: ELIZABET D G AND FRA Z HIB REGINA (though the "I" in REGINA seems to be missing) on the obverse and POSUI DEUM ADIVTOREM MEUM on the reverse. It is nickel-sized with irregular edges. Thanks, Cointalkers!
Most certainly a replica, not the fuzziness of the coin - that's caused by the method of reproduction, casting. At the size of a nickel, its much too small to be a shilling. More likely a twopence or groat. Unfortunately, as these coins are available for reasonable prices. Nevertheless, it is, as you said, a nice souvenir!
Thank you! If nothing else, I did get a crash course in coins reading on the web. Much like my crash course on watches last January. I'll put my little memento aside with other things of theirs. I appreciate your time on what must not be a very interesting item.
That II behind th ehead is supposed to indicate that the coin is a 2 pence. But Elizabeth I did not issue any 2 pence. That type of design was not used until Charles I in 1638, nearly 100 years later. So in reality it is not even a replica for there is no such coin to replicate. It is but a crude fake.
FYI - there are some quality museum copies being sold that aren't marked as such so be extremely careful buying old English hammered coins without examining them extremely careful. :kewl: Ribbit
Have to agree I to think it is a fake but a nice keepsake and there are collectors of fakes out there if it is a contempery piece. Elizabeths reign did in fact produce Halfgroat coins and those from the London mint had 2 pellets .. were yours shows II You might want to send Clive at Clive@HistoricCoinage.com a email to ask his advice on the coin.
