1823 Crown I think (pic attached)

[Guest Deby Coles]

My brother in law gave me this coin to investigate knowing that I love to research and find things out. Neither of us know anything about coins but I've looked in a library book and find that it must be a crown because it is 38mm across.

It is dated 1823 and the book tells me that only 'proofs' were issued dated 1823 and that therefore it is very rare. (assuming that it isn't some kind of copy.) What was a proof - some kind of commemorative coin or collectors coin?

It seems in very good condition although my scanner can't really cope with anything this small. The hair is well done etc. and the lettering and the George and the Dragon figire look pretty perfect in terms of being unworn.

The edges aren't very good however, there are 2 small lumps of metal that look as though they should have been smoothed off but weren't and the edge is smooth with no inscription - should it be? And of course it has a hole in it! Does this mean that someone suspected it was a forgery and defaced it?

All info on this very gratefully received. And please let me know of any likely value - I'm assuming its worthless but who knows?

[Chris Perkins]

You assume correctly, and that's always a good assumption to make with unknown coins!

It's not a Crown. An actual crown would be thicker and silver. The portrait of the king is also very crude, unlike a real one, which looked fatter!

What you have appears to be some kind of brass costume jewellery piece, or possibly it was a counter at one stage. The 2 lumps on the edge are where there was probably once a mount to attach a chain or something similar. It may not even be from 1823, it's likely that it's Victorian or it could have even been made in the 60's!

A proof in 1823 was a coin struck in very limited numbers usually specially prepared dies and blanks, as a kind of trial piece.

[Guest Guest]

Thanks very much for the info and for the very quick reply. My brother in law will be disappointed.