George V Florin counterfeit 'mule'

[seuk 85]

My first guess was; the obverse of a regular half penny joined with a cast florin reverse However the half penny is too small. So it must be a colonial coin - but which?

[davidrj 194]

So it must be a colonial coin - but which?

BRITT OMN was only ever used on UK coinage, not Imperial, also colonies normally used a crowned effigy of George V

I think obverse is from a (1928-36) penny

Edited May 16, 2012 by davidrj

[Peckris 579]

So it must be a colonial coin - but which?

BRITT OMN was only ever used on UK coinage, not Imperial, also colonies normally used a crowned effigy of George V

I think obverse is from a (1928-36) penny

Agreed. And the reverse looks like a battered (to fit) genuine florin reverse that's been coated in some ugly finish to simulate bronze - you can see the coating peeling and the underlying silver at one rim point.

[seuk 85]

Thanks - of course; its a penny with the rim cut off

It does seem like there's something hiding under the bronze at the Irish shield. However the rim appears silvered here and there and there's some silvering below the bust on obverse. Perhaps it was made for conjuring, for fun or some kind of jewelry training?

[Peckris 579]

Thanks - of course; its a penny with the rim cut off

It does seem like there's something hiding under the bronze at the Irish shield. However the rim appears silvered here and there and there's some silvering below the bust on obverse. Perhaps it was made for conjuring, for fun or some kind of jewelry training?

I don't think the reverse IS bronze. What I'm seeing is a coating peeling off at the point you mention. The coating (whatever it is) would also account for the blurred look of the reverse design.

[just.me 23]

I have an almost identical coin. It has the 1922 Florin reverse and the Penny obverse. The Penny is 1911-26 type.

here it is

[just.me 23]

[just.me 23]

The join is very easily seen at the right hand side but at the left can only be seen through a glass.

It looks like the penny has been hollowed out and had the reverse half of the Florin inserted, then the edge of the Penny folded over and re-milled?.

[Peckris 579]

The join is very easily seen at the right hand side but at the left can only be seen through a glass.

It looks like the penny has been hollowed out and had the reverse half of the Florin inserted, then the edge of the Penny folded over and re-milled?.

That's certainly a convincing theory. The 'coating' on the florin reverse is even more evident on your example. The only remaining question is "Why?". It couldn't have been passed off as a florin, and anyway it cost a 2s1d to make! Plus all the effort.