City of Bern - Batzen ? maybe False

Started by Growl62, June 11, 2024, 01:52:53 PM

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Growl62

Hi there,

I'm looking for an ID of this coin in poor quality.

After some research, i think of batzen from Bern as this one
https://fr.numista.com/catalogue/pieces79352.html

When i read inscriptions, i find some differences or mistake or inconsistency.

I explain (i add that there is no year, 25 mm, 1.43 g)

on the obverse the inscription is: MON-NO-REIPV....while for those referenced: MONE-NO-REIPV.....

on the reverse the inscription is: BRECHT-DVX-ZERIN-FVND.....while for those referenced: BERCHT-DVX-ZERIN-FVNDATOR

The only source that mentions it is available here but nothing visual

Thanks in advance for your help

Best regards from France




Figleaf

Your ID is correct. The side with the bi-cephalic eagle is shown upside down. The legends are different, in particular, yours is undated, but this is quite normal in the 17th century. Legends were cut by less experienced engravers, who notably had trouble calculating or estimating the vertical spacing of letters. I read the legends on your coin as:

+MONeta:NOva:REIPvblica:BERNENSIS - new coin of the republic of Bern
:BRECHT.V.DVX.ZERIN.FVNDATOR - Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen, founder

While the differences in the legend don't bother me in general (though I wonder why nobody noticed the RE inversion in BERCHT), the pinholes on the surface of your coin, its weight and its diameter are troublesome. Together, they give the impression of a cast contemporary counterfeit, though they can all be explained by your coin not being struck in a collar and improper cleaning of a low grade silver coin.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

Growl62

Thanks a lot Peter for this answer full of details as usual !

I will classify is like i supposed without knowing if it's a genuine one or a counterfeit

Best regards

Jerome