I have absolutely no idea where this coin can be from. There is an offcenter shield with an eagle (with a halo??) Above that all is a crown. The coin is in such bad condition I just kind of assumed it was really old. I know the scans are really bad, but the coin doesn't look much better anyways. Maybe a digital picture would help? I think I see something that looks like a C (or G), I, L, T then a dash - followed by some more less visible letters. All this on the other side going around a big letter I? or maybe that's the denomination? edit- Sorry to keep bothering everybody at coin talk here about my problems.
I just saved the pics and lightened them and still cant make anything out. Can you take a higher resolution scan? maybe go to like 800 dpi...
Original poster might also be best advised to take the coin out of the holder too. He/ she would probably get a better and sharper image if they did.
Redone Scans Here are the other scans. I originally scanned them at 2400 dpi, but the file was too big. I adjusted some brightness and midtones and stuff, so it should be easier to read.
I'm probably way off here but it reminds me of the arms of Strasbourg and Lorraine side by side (obverse). Perhaps made for use in Strasbourg as under the Bishopric of Charles of Lorraine (?). I don't think the item is/was ever a coin though, but I would be pleasantly surprised to learn otherwise. Whatever it may be, its monetary value (if it ever had any) has long since flown the nest and it's now living on the credit it can amass as a conversation piece.
I agree that it's probably a token,most likely issued by a 17th-19th century European merchant for use in their establishment.The only legible word "GILT" is from the same words as gold,geld and gelt,meaning money.Did they have Chuck-E- Cheese back then?
If this is a button then I sure hope this is an old button. If it's just some thing that fell off a piece of 21st machinery and got run over by at least 5 trains then I don't know if it's worth keeping it in a 2x2.
If I am correct, I would say it is a very old button. But I've been wrong before and I will be again. Anyway - the area I have circled in the pic looks like it may have stuck out from the surface at one time - like a loop for sewing a button on. If I am correct, then I would think that it would be a button from a nobleman's clothing or perhaps a military uniform.
:thumb: I had similar thoughts because of the reverse . I wasn't sure whether it was used as a button or as some kind of lapel type badge but it definitely looks like it was used as an item of adornment. Whether it was manufactured for that purpose or whether latterly transformed is likely to remain a matter of conjecture unless we have someone in our midst who has the button collectors equivalent of KM.........anybody?
Shaking my head here. GD, ho do you come up with this. After reading your post.. I have to agree with you. I bow before you Masta....
Well Jim I'll tell ya - I just see what I see. 'Bout all there is to it. But you're bowing in the wrong direction pal - there are more than a few people on this forum that know 10 times what I do. I just talk more about it than they do
I don't know about the obverse. I've seen at least 5 countries that have the same eagle and many more that have a two headed eagle. I got it from my grandma and all the other coins she gave me were Polish, Russian, Austrian, and very little German. I'm betting it's one of those.
I don't have catalogues handy, but the arms are of Saxony (left) and Poland (right). There was a period in the end of 17th century and beginning of the 18th century when Polish King August II was at the same time Elector of Saxony (as Friedrich August I). IMHO this button was made of a coin of Saxony (or should I say Poland?) of this period. I'll check my references tomorrow, if nobody finds this coin in their Krause SCWC before that.
The coat of arms is that of one of the German states. I could not found which one exactly. The left field of the shield is coat of arms is Saxony. The right field with an eagle and something below it (don't see what is below the eagle) could point at Poland or several German lands. E.g. the coinage of Saxe-Meiningen of 1717 (silver 1/4 Thaler, gold Ducat and 2 Ducat) has a similar combination of coat of arms: that of Saxony on the left and eagle on the right. I could not find exact match of the photo to a copper coin. Probably somebody specializing in German coinage of the 18th century could be more helpful.
