Testoon being cleaned, early stage pictures.

[robfinds]

Got some pictures yesterday, of the early cleaning stage of the testoon. Seems to be coming up well. It will never win any beauty contests, rarity ones though maybe.

Robert.

 

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[Bill D. (VA)]

Robert - I can't remember what the coin looked like before the cleaning process started. Maybe you could post the before and after pics together. And you could continue to add new pics as the cleaning progresses. Just a thought .....

 

[Mackaydon]

Bill,
Here's what it first looked like: '
Don......

 

[Steve in PA]

Looking good Rob

 

[Erik in NJ]

How are you cleaning it? Do you have a pic with the topical dirt removed? I think I like the green patina better than it's current state.

 

[Ahab8]

How are you cleaning it? Do you have a pic with the topical dirt removed? I think I like the green patina better than it's current state.

Believe it or not it's silver so it's looking more appropriate after the cleaning process has begun. Henry even stole silver from his coins lol

 

[pepperj]

No matter how ugly something can look - when rarity comes into play it's beautiful then and you have a beauty Robert! Congrats

 

[robfinds]

How are you cleaning it? Do you have a pic with the topical dirt removed? I think I like the green patina better than it's current state.

Hello Erik, I sent the coin away to be cleaned. Not sure what method is being used. I had to have it cleaned, the green (copper oxide) was obscuring a lot of the detail.

 

[robfinds]

Believe it or not it's silver so it's looking more appropriate after the cleaning process has begun. Henry even stole silver from his coins lol

Can't blame Henry for this one Ahab. The coin carries the WS monogram, and the mint mark Bristolie. This shows it was minted in Bristol 1546-1547/8 Fourth coinage. The man in charge of the mint Sir William Sharington (WS), thought it would be profitable (for him) to make 12,000 counterfeit testoons. These had even less silver in them, than the official ones. When this act was discovered, all of these testoons were recalled, with good coins given in replacement. There was nothing to be gained by holding on to the counterfeit coins. That's what now makes them so rare.

 

[robfinds]

Looks like you were correct early on Don. From the pictures, it does look like a Bristolie 4th issue groat.