Belgium 1915 10 Centimes over date?

[Moose59]

Ok to start this off, I know this is zinc an prone to corrosion. But it looks like a an over date to me. Opinions are greatly appreciated.

[Figleaf]

My first reaction was yes, but when I looked at the coin in its historical context, I reached the opposite conclusion.

First, in this period in history, errors and re-engraved dates are not uncommon. Belgium was occupied and at war, adding to the possibilities. The only catalogued overdate is 1916 over 1915, which makes eminent sense.

However, the only known dates of this type are 1915, 1916 and 1917, which makes sense. I cannot imagine an error in the third figure of the date. I did consider the option of 1915 over 195 or 199, but the top of the third figure doesn't look like 5 and the bottom looks like a regular 1, while for an overdate, I would have expected to see traces of the curl at the end of the 9 left of the 1 at the bottom. A second 9 is not wholly excluded, but in my opinion unlikely.

Looking at the two dots on either side of the date, I concluded that the third dot is a cleaned rust pit in the die. If so, that fully explains the deformation of the first 1 on the top right, which has a "shadow" of similar thickness: the die had rusted and the rust was removed, leaving pits. See also the dots below C and N of Cent.

To complete the picture, there is evidence of metal flaking on the edge below the date.

FWIW, my conclusion is that this is certainly a sloppily made coin made in "interesting times", but not an overdate.

Peter

[Moose59]

Thank you

[Aernout]

Best,

I follow Peter's reasoning in this one.

It is much more likely that this is due to the corrosion points than a overdate.
Is it possible to give the measurements and weights of this piece, in order to exclude a contemporary forgery.

gr,
Aernout

[bgriff99]

quote author=Aernout link=msg=353707 date=1687801382]


Is it possible to give the measurements and weights of this piece, in order to exclude a contemporary forgery.

gr,
Aernout

Face value was a bit over a quarter of a US cent, or a half farthing British.

[Thulium]

A collector of overdates, my opinion is that corrosion or even pitting of the die explains the details on the coin. Zinc is a fairly reactive metal that corrodes easily.