Hypothetical Question

[ResearchPhil]

I'm just doing a little research and wanted to throw a hypothetical question to the experts out there.

If someone were to hand you an obviously very old piece of metal that was shaped in a way that it were possible that it may be an antique coin/currency of some kind, how would you go about determining whether it were in fact currency as opposed to say just an old button. What would be the determining factors to conclude that something is definitely not a form of currency, but more likely just a very old decorative piece of metal of some kind.

Thanks in advance!

 

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[signal]

There is no single test you can do. The best way is to post a picture, such as here, to have people who have years of experience in coinage and relics help ID it for you. That should narrow it down. Then once you have some idea, for example say its coinage, you can seek out the best place to have it graded or appraised if you like.

 

[Mackaydon]

If you post a pic, then include something to show relative size.
If it is round, including the diameter in mm. and the weight in grams would be helpful.
Don.....

 

[ResearchPhil]

There is no single test you can do. The best way is to post a picture, such as here, to have people who have years of experience in coinage and relics help ID it for you. That should narrow it down. Then once you have some idea, for example say its coinage, you can seek out the best place to have it graded or appraised if you like.

I'm speaking hypothetically.

Let me put it this way, if an experienced antique coin person was given a round or oval metal object and had never seen an object like it before could they, just by looking at it closely and handling it determine:

1.) If it is currency or not?
2.) If it is old or not?

And if so, how would they know? What would they be looking for etc.? Any and all info I could get would be very helpful.

Thanks again folks!

 

[Snipes]

I ask my lawyer these kind of 'hypothetical' questions all the time ...

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Diameter, thickness, weight, material.

Most coins are pretty standard for these qualities for any given pattern.

 

[lockster99]

Sounds like it would depend on the person you handed it to. His experiences and maybe even where it was from. Every "expert" has his or her own field that their more comfortably with. Too vague of a question for a good answer.

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Great question !! We look for identifying marks, lettering, numbers, button loops, size and weight matters too. Machined parts are easy to separate from 18th century and before handmade relics. It takes a few years of practice, and digging 10's of thousands of pieces of crap. To really get good at identifying everything you find... Even some of the best of us will get stuck or confused sometimes and need help from someone else here.

Keep @ it and HH !!

 

[Ahab8]

Generally easy to tell if it's a button as you would see some sort of attachment point for a shank. But normally a coin has an approximate thickness and an obvious obverse and reverse. I guess process of elimination is about the only way to come up with a reasonable explanation. Also most coins show a bust of somebody important from that time or a number of some sort. But there are certainly exceptions to every rule.
I certainly wish I could discover a previously unknown coin

 

[pong12211]

I try to stay out of the hypotherical world. It scares me.

 

[ResearchPhil]

You guys are great!
Thanks so much for the answers. This is very helpful. Let me throw a few follow up questions out there.

1.) Would any certain types of metal rule out currency? Or is currency a possibility regardless of metal in question? And related to that, how easy or difficult is it to determine what kind of metal something is? I'm guessing some metals are obvious and others are more difficult to determine? Am I warm?
2.) Follow up on the "Machined Part" response - What would be clear indications that the hypothetical piece in question is definitely machined and if it is machined what kind of time period are we looking at as far as oldest possible goes?
3.) Weight-wise, would most coins be on the lighter side? Heavier type objects would lessen the likelihood of it being currency?

 

[BigWaveDave]

Have you ever seen a coin?....compare your hypothetical object to one, and see how it stacks up.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

I would imagine it would be compared to all previous know samples of coin or metal objects, as to size, weight, thickness, imprinted design, area found in, composition, maybe some tests, like x-rays etc. even then you may not have a decisive answer, it would be a best guess.

 

[Ahab8]

You guys are great!
Thanks so much for the answers. This is very helpful. Let me throw a few follow up questions out there.

1.) Would any certain types of metal rule out currency? Or is currency a possibility regardless of metal in question? And related to that, how easy or difficult is it to determine what kind of metal something is? I'm guessing some metals are obvious and others are more difficult to determine? Am I warm?
2.) Follow up on the "Machined Part" response - What would be clear indications that the hypothetical piece in question is definitely machined and if it is machined what kind of time period are we looking at as far as oldest possible goes?
3.) Weight-wise, would most coins be on the lighter side? Heavier type objects would lessen the likelihood of it being currency?

There's been several types of metals used in coin production. They are pretty obvious when you've been around them enough and are familiar with them. Silver and gold are usually very obvious. Copper as well. There have been a few coins made from brass or pewter but these are not very common. So basically if you're talking about old coins it's normally gold, silver and copper. All of which are pretty easy to tell apart.
And normally old coins come in pretty standard ranges depending upon denomination. Half dime, dime, quarter, half dollar, dollar. Half real, real, 2 Reales, 8 Reales etc. there are some obvious trends normally. Of course there are ways exceptions to every rule

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

You can generally tell what metal your holding. Brass or copper is generally green. Steel or iron is generally rusty and red.. Lead weighs a whole lot in the hand and aluminum is not heavy at all. Gold or silver does not rust or corrode gold is also very heavy in the hand.... Machined parts are easy to spot, look for screw threading on things, if its old it would likely not have threading. Perfect machine cuts or holes are good to look for too, hand made things are not so perfect. Modern bolts or screws are a good thing to use to identify things also. Most machined items started in the early 1900's or late 1800's so if its machined its likely not pre 1800's. If a coin is not an exact weight, then its not the coin you think. All coins have an exact weight and can be found in a price guide or online.

Keep @ It and HH !!

 

[Jarl]

I would think they would have a better chance of knowing it was old than if it were purely currency, at least intrinsically. If they had never seen anything like it before, at best they could only comparatively hypothesize that it might be currency based on similarities of known forms of currency. But without another known example it would be difficult to ascertain comfortably. It depends on what the object said, if anything really. There is better chance of a numismatist or antiques dealer knowing than say...a professional clown.