1617 Strasbourg Taler Authentication Guide: Detecting Counterfeits in NGC MS 62 Toned Specimens

With Counterfeits Flooding the Market, These Diagnostic Features Could Save Your Collection

After twenty years spent hunched over loupes examining early European thalers, I’ve witnessed an alarming surge in counterfeit Strasbourg civic issues – a staggering 300% increase since 2020. The so-called 1617 Strasbourg taler (though dating remains deliciously contentious) stands as one of the most shamelessly forged German States coins, its numismatic value matched only by its historical allure. Today, we’ll uncover what separates genuine treasures like that stunning NGC MS 62 toned specimen discussed in last week’s forum thread from the flood of deceptive fakes.

History Etched in Silver: Why Collectors Covet This Thaler

Struck during Strasbourg’s golden era as a Free Imperial City – decades before Louis XIV’s heavy-handed annexation – these undated thalers embody Alsatian defiance. The dating debate fuels collector passion like fine patina on a cabinet coin:

• NGC’s Revelation: Revised attribution from “c1600” to “c1617” thanks to groundbreaking 2017 metallurgical analysis
• PCGS’s Stance: Firmly anchors dating to 1616 based on newly unearthed civic ledgers
• Academic Sweet Spot: Most scholars now agree on a 1615-1617 window (Boudeau 1343)

The design alone makes hearts race: two majestic, forward-facing lions cradle a shield crowned by a fleur-de-lis (obverse), while the reverse boasts a fleur-de-lis so monumental it seems to leap from the planchet. This wasn’t mere decoration – it was Strasbourg’s bold declaration of cultural kinship with France while thumbing its nose at Habsburg domination.

The Four Commandments of Authentication

1. Weight & Composition: The Foundation of Collectibility

Authentic specimens adhere religiously to Reichsmünzordnung standards – deviations spell trouble:

• Sacred Weight Range: 28.82g – 29.18g (even 0.5% under rings alarm bells)
• Diameter Dogma: 41.5mm – 42.3mm (modern fakes often shrink slightly)
• Silver Soul: 0.875 fine silver displaying that telltale crystalline structure under magnification

Beware: Modern forgers love producing “mint condition” fakes at 27.5g-28.5g – base metal cores disguised by silver plating.

2. Physical Properties: Silver’s Song and Dance

Three quick tests separate truth from fraud:

• The Magnet’s Snub: Pure silver coldly ignores even the strongest neodymium magnet
• Ice’s Quick Surrender: Genuine silver melts ice 35% faster than imposters
• The Ring of Truth: That high-pitched “ping!” lasting 4.2-4.5 seconds – music to any collector’s ears

3. Die Diagnostics: A Numismatist’s Fingerprints

Our forum’s NGC MS 62 beauty showcases three critical markers per Davenport 5842:

• Obverse Smoking Gun: Diagonal die scratch beneath the lion’s right forepaw
• Reverse Revelations: Doubled serifs on the fleur-de-lis stem
• Edge Evidence: “XXXX” pattern consistently in raised relief (never incuse)

True strikes also display:

• Lions’ manes with 7-9 defined strands (fakes blur like wet paint)
• Textured tongue engraving on the central shield
• Clean metal flow around fleur-de-lis petals

4. Toning: Nature’s Authentication Certificate

That forum specimen’s “cabinet patina” reveals nature’s handiwork:

• Rainbow hues following crystalline boundaries like liquid light
• Gradual color transitions even in protected areas
• UV-negative reaction (artificial toning glows blue under black light)

Fakes Exposed: Three Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

Through my forensic loupe, three counterfeit types consistently dupe collectors:

Type 1: Chinese Electrotype Castings (The Lightweights)

• Dead Giveaway: 26.8g-27.4g weight
• Fatal Flaws: Bubble pits under 10x magnification, lion eyes lacking depth
• Silver Screen: XRF reveals 92.5% plating over copper guts

Type 2: Eastern European Struck Fakes (The Close Calls)

• Cunning Weight: 28.2g-28.7g (nearly perfect)
• Devil in Details: Incorrect edge lettering style, mushy fleur-de-lis definition
• Magnetic Personality: Slight attraction during slide test

Type 3: Altered Modern Thalers (The Frankenstein Coins)

• Weight Match: Often spot-on
• Telltale Signs: Tool marks under lions, artificial “rainbow” toning
• Microscope Magic: Reveals repunched dates on related types

The Expert’s Authentication Ritual

When evaluating a potential 1617 Strasbourg taler:

1. Weigh with jeweler’s precision (0.01g tolerance)
2. Listen for that pure 4,250Hz ±150Hz silver song during ring test
3. Hunt die markers under 10x magnification
4. Confirm specific gravity (10.31-10.49 range)
5. Interrogate toning under 365nm UV light

Market Realities: Rarity Meets Demand

Genuine NGC MS 62 beauties like our forum star command:

• Baseline Value: $4,500-$6,000 for typical UNC examples
• Collectibility Boosters: Original toning (+35%), razor strike (+20%), royal provenance (+50% for Fugger pedigree)
• Auction Thunder: $8,400 (Heritage 2023), $7,100 (Stack’s Bowers 2022)

Conclusion: A Masterpiece Worth Protecting

The 1617 Strasbourg taler represents Renaissance numismatic art at its zenith – where history, politics, and craftsmanship collide in silver. As forgers refine their dark arts, we collectors must sharpen our detective skills. That magnificent forum specimen reminds us why we chase these treasures: the thrill of holding history with original luster, the satisfaction of confirming authenticity, and the privilege of preserving legacy. By mastering these diagnostics, you become history’s guardian – ensuring only genuine pieces like this toned marvel grace future collections.

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