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Modified Or Repurposed Coins

Spookdaddy

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This is an edited version of a couple of posts I made some years back on another thread. Kind of outwith the general thrust of this thread: it's not so much a mystery how they got where they got - but why they've been treated the way they have is still a bit of a headscratcher:

Coins001.jpg


These were part of a load of old and very worn coins that had been used to create ballast in the replacement of a broken grandfather clock counterweight (inside the case there was also a set of harness bells; a perfectly preserved but very old leather double headed dog leash with an internal release - for coursing, I assume; a very old pistol - the mechanism of which still works; leather saddle panniers - from the Boer War, I think; and what looks like an ancient pepperpot: a veritable treasure chest, no less). No-one can remember how long the clock had been in the family. (It's since been repaired and sold.)

The type looks pretty old (18th century? but I'm no expert) and the edges of the letters are very worn. The scar above the lettering on the larger coin looks deliberate. (I'm now pretty sure that the larger one of these two is a Georgian 'cartwheel' twopence coin - there is a less worn example of this in the same pile that came from the counterweight - and the smaller, possibly the cartwheel penny.)

Of course, someone could have just been messing around with a set of letter punches, but STOLEN and SPACE (or S·PACE) seem odd words to choose for someone who was just mucking about.

These are the unmarked sides:

Coins002.jpg


There is a possible relevance to these in the locality (and maybe even family history). My dad's ancestors can be traced back in the Peak District to the mid 1700's (and before that, the Hebrides). The area on the western edge of their stamping ground was once notorious for coining*, as well as other more general skullduggery, apparently because it lies on the border of three counties, which meant that if the authorities of one were after you all you had to do was pop over the back wall and you were in another jurisdiction. Wouldn't surprise me if some of my lot - who seem to have been comfortable operating at both extremes of the legal spectrum - might not have had something to do with the reasons these coins have been defaced.

The STOLEN one seems the more easily explained, until you wonder why on earth anyone would actually mark a stolen coin in that way.

Any ideas?

*Edit: I just checked this. Apparently one of the theories that the village of Flash - which claims to be the highest in the UK - is so named is that counterfeit coins were once known as 'flash money'. I'm not entirely sure about that: why the locals would advertise their illegal sideline is not explained - but Flash is very isolated, would have been tough to approach without being noticed, and is close to the point where three counties meet (imaginatively named Three Shires Head) - so, who knows?

Edit II: Actually, the E in SPACE could be an F - but that doesn't exactly help matters.
 
The coin on the right seems to be a Victorian 'bun penny', showing the young Queen Victoria with her hair up.
 
The coin on the right seems to be a Victorian 'bun penny', showing the young Queen Victoria with her hair up.

I'm almost positive this is the Georgian cartwheel two penny. The little upflick of 'hair' is actually the tip of the leaves on the laurel wreath; you'll see what I mean on this link. And all the other less worn coins in the group are recognisably Georgian.

Mytho suggested on the original thread that they might be company tokens used as part of the truck system, but the examples I can find of these were manufactured by (or for) the companies themselves, and their ownership is very clearly marked (which was kind of the point). I'm pretty sure it would not even be legal to use (and deface) regular currency in such a way - for what is, effectively, private use.
 
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Looking at the 'Stolen' and 'Space' coins, what is described as a scar could be 'trimming' - that is, a tiny amount was removed to get the balance right for the clock.
No idea why someone would punch those words on the coins.
 
Finally, my weird coin-like object! Any ideas?
 

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Yes, a seal was also my first thought. Though then I would have expected the image to be in reverse.
 
A seal for making wax impressions? ...
Yes, a seal was also my first thought. Though then I would have expected the image to be in reverse.

Same here ... The first thing that occurred to me was a seal or mold, but the image not being reversed seems to rule out that explanation.

The imagery seems to match coinage from 50 to 60-some years ago, but without the lettering / captions.

Could it be a mint / engraver's test blank that was encased as a collector's item?

Or perhaps some sort of souvenir / commemorative item from decades ago?
 
I'm wondering if it's something like a homemade coin holder, minus it's lid. There is engraving on the inner rim - is it possible that it's a larger coin, or commemorative item, that's been stamped into that shape in a bench press?
 
Seal protective cover? You don't want the actual seal bit damaged or dusty and so you have a cover that pops on/off.

or

something like a ferrule made out of a coin.
 
It looks like a half crown probably from the 60s or 70s. I used to collect coins when I was a child and had a few of these shaped ones. I think they’re home made but. I don’t know the reason.
 
There is engraving on the inner rim - is it possible that it's a larger coin, or commemorative item, that's been stampesd into that shape in a bench press?

Yes, the lettering round the edge is what you'd find on the edge of a coin.

I can see why a seal would come to mind, but I don't think it is defined enough to have made impressions. I thank all for their thoughts! Maybe I need to get someone to look at it properly.
 
This video showing how to make a ring from a coin has something similar at the 5.40 mark. An unfinished jewellery project? ...

I think that's an excellent match for bugmum's coin object - complete with the outermost rims with peripheral lettering being pressed (?) orthogonally into the ring with the central coin left in the middle.
 
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