10 Pfennig 1896-error? Counterfeit? PMD?

Hello everyone,

I have a question about this 10 Pfennig coin from 1896.

While it looks like the coin has all the necessary detail, the coin actually weighs 2.9g instead of 4 gramms. The diameter is correct, but this coin is also thinner, 1mm instead of 1.3, which I find weird. The rim is very sand-like instead of smooth. Can anyone help here?

Here's a side by side comparison with a normal 10 Pfennig (on the right):

Thanks everyone and kind regards!  :)

Counterfeit, in my opinion, but why cheat on a coin of 10 Pfennig? Maybe just an experiment to see, if possible, to provoke a question like this years later?

Sjoelund

Counterfeit, in my opinion, but why cheat on a coin of 10 Pfennig? Maybe just an experiment to see, if possible, to provoke a question like this years later?

If it were counterfeit, I'd say that it's contemporary. Putting smaller coins into circulation is way easier, since noone checks them.

Looks like a sand casting.  

Should I add it as a counterfeit to the exonumia catalogue?

DanzigCoins

Should I add it as a counterfeit to the exonumia catalogue?

I think it's a recent creation, so no. Unless you have evidence that it's a contemporary counterfeit, it doesn't belong in the catalog.

rsirian1

DanzigCoins

Should I add it as a counterfeit to the exonumia catalogue?

I think it's a recent creation, so no. Unless you have evidence that it's a contemporary counterfeit, it doesn't belong in the catalog.

That's possible. I think that a modern forgery is also possible, but it wouldn't make much sense to fake it nowadays. Back then though, this coin had some purchasing power, and it was much easier to put it into circulation. But I don't know how to further verify my theory. 

Looks like an earth find to me (this can leach out quite a bit of mass in addition to the strong wear). Or very harsh acid treatment maybe both (coin picture is not really in focus). If we are that uncertain there is no real benefit for the catalog to add stuff like this.

Idolenz

Looks like an earth find to me (this can leach out quite a bit of mass in addition to the strong wear). Or very harsh acid treatment maybe both (coin picture is not really in focus). If we are that uncertain there is no real benefit for the catalog to add stuff like this.

That could explain the weight difference and the thickness difference.  If it is a contemporary counterfeit it would be one of many and others should be reported.

Send me a better picture or post to my Facebook group.

colonialjohn

Send me a better picture or post to my Facebook group.

Please stick with numista, so other members also can learn?

colonialjohn

Send me a better picture or post to my Facebook group.

Hello there,

I apologise for replying so late. As advised, I shall reply and send photos in this thread. Here are some more detailed photos. If you have any further questions, feel free to either ask here or send me a message.

Kind regards. 

Idolenz

Looks like an earth find to me (this can leach out quite a bit of mass in addition to the strong wear). Or very harsh acid treatment maybe both (coin picture is not really in focus). If we are that uncertain there is no real benefit for the catalog to add stuff like this.

That is my opinion too.