I am a novice coin collector, and do not have a specific genre for collection. It is a hobby which I have taken up during my school days.
Recently, I got to buy a coin (from a villager in West Bengal, India) which I could not figure out of which era it is of. Who minted this and other related info. and also the probable price of it.
Nothing is available online.
I am hoping that this forum will be able to help me to get the details.
This is a circular coin with about 3 grams of weight. I got it checked by caratometer and it got confirmed that it is made of gold varying between 20-22 carat. I am attaching the photos.
I'm probably not the only one around here who seriously doubts that this is gold ─ let alone 20-22 carat gold! The patina certainly suggests that it is brass. On top of it, this is most certainly a (recent) token of some sort, not a coin.
I want to know more about "got it checked by caratometer". I never heard of that.
if you can provide accurate diameter and thickness we can calculate approximate density and that will help prove it is made of gold or not.
I also do not like the color. high carat gold coins are gold in color and do not collect patina. that patina looks like ink wash used to make things look like antiques.
Jamais l'or n'a perdu la plus petite occasion de se montrer stupide. -Balzac
Thank You Camerinvs and Mr. Midnight for your prompt and valued reply.
The Karatmeter (also Caratometer) is a scientific device bought and named by India-based Quantum Equipment Co. Pvt. Ltd) which uses X-rays to give an exact reading of the purity of gold. Due to its very high precision and fast result, X-ray analysis has been adopted by international agencies in India as part of the certification process used to hallmark gold. It is an accurate, non-destructive means of testing the purity of gold and other related elements.
So, with due respect to the experts, the Gold part seems fine to me.
The diameter is about 2.2cm and the thickness is less than a millimeter .
Hope this helps.
The patina is a outer deposit which i have not cleaned . The photograph is taken in low light and not daytime. That might be the cause of the color not matching that of gold.
I am really keen to know the origin of the coin and also the valuation.
I agree, this is a fantasy piece, not corresponding to a known coin. It could conceivably be gold-plated, which would give the XRF readings. Also, gold does not oxidize or develop a patina, and this patina looks artificial.
Hi there,
the volume of a coin can be calculated as follow
r squared x pi x thickness
in this case (11x11) x 3.14 x 0.7 mm (I have taken 0.7 as the coin is "less than 1 mm")
121 x 3.14 x 0.7 = 265 cubic mm
Specific gravity of 24 ct gold is 19.32 (allowing for lighter metals to make 20-22 ct, which incidentally is around 10 percent margin of error) let's take 18 grams per cubic cm or 1000 cubic mm
The coin should weigh 4.77 grams.
The specs do not add up.
I must add though, patina is not always a good indicator. It can be faked.
Kind regards,
Eriberi.
