Some Assistance With A Strange Find In Auction Lot Please....?

[RREGNIER 0]

Good Morning

I was wondering if anyone could help....

I recently purchased a really cheap lot from auction containing a few silver pieces I wanted from S. Africa.

Within the lot is a 1979 2 New Pence, but finished in a silvered coloured metal.

The coin is approx. 0.3mm smaller in diameter to standard copper 2p's.

The flan on which it is struck is approx. 0.25-0.3mm thinner.

Copper 2p coins weigh (by my scales) 7.1g, but this piece weighs 5.6g.

My maths isn't brilliant, and as such this seems light when all things considered....

The strike is identical, and is certainly not a "fake" coin (positioning of legends and quality of workmanship is almost identical to that of copper 2p except for some "shadowing" around D.G.REG.F.D.1979)

I have searched Spinks & Std Cat of World Coins to see if anything is listed, but nothing to be found....

Was wondering if the royal mint did Trial Strikes of this type of coin, or if anyone might be able to help in any way????

It MAY just be a fake.... but I can't see of imagine why anyone would bother????

[Gary1000 41]

Copper clad with the cladding missing?

[RREGNIER 0]

So excuse my ignorance? The coin is struck in (nickel?) and then layered with copper to finish as a standard Royal Mint practice?

If this is the case, how uncommon is it to escape the QC procedure at the mint and have such a piece enter circulation?

Edited February 13, 2014 by RREGNIER

[Peckris 579]

So excuse my ignorance? The coin is struck in (nickel?) and then layered with copper to finish as a standard Royal Mint practice?

If this is the case, how uncommon is it to escape the QC procedure at the mint and have such a piece enter circulation?

Sounds like a misstrike on the wrong blank. These things do happen from time to time, most are spotted but occasionally one gets out.

[Gary1000 41]

So excuse my ignorance? The coin is struck in (nickel?) and then layered with copper to finish as a standard Royal Mint practice?

If this is the case, how uncommon is it to escape the QC procedure at the mint and have such a piece enter circulation?

I don't recall when we started that but they were/are copper over steel. If you left one in a puddle for a length of time it would blow the copper cladding. Of cause some enterprising people would remove the cladding and try and sell them on ebay as a mistrike.

[RREGNIER 0]

Many thanks everyone.... I know it's probably something of nothing, and pretty worthless, but might get it sent to royal mint and see what they say... If it's anything not stated above I'll keep you informed I like this kind of fact finding with my coins (I think research is half the fun)

[scott 144]

it is copper so no cladding.

struck on a 5P blank?