I have a 1798 gold Guinea and I've read before that a lot of fakes were produced in North Africa with this date. Does anyone know if the coin below is a fake? If not, how much is the coin worth?
Very hard to tell from a photo, but the surface does look a little grainy, which might indicate a cast copy. Counterfeiters are usually pretty good about getting the diameter right, but the weight is a different story, since getting the weight of base metal to match the weight of the same volume of gold isn't easy. The genuine coin (KM#609) weighs 3.5g and is ~26mm. It's actual gold weight is .2461 oz, so the bullion value is less than $100 at today's prices. The lowest grade priced in the latest 18th century Krause (3rd Ed., 2002) is Fine, at $125. Yours is much too worn to receive an F, so bullion value it is.
It should also be noted that this coin has been mounted as jewelry. This also would remove any mumismatic value the coin might have if it were in better condition. Given that it was mounted as jewelry though - it might just be real. If it is then I would agree with the bullion value of the gold as already stated.
