Medieval Money Mysteries: Spotting Rare Errors in Hammered Silver and Gold Coins
December 12, 2025Grading Medieval Hammered Coins: How Condition Turns $100 Finds into $10,000 Treasures
December 12, 2025
The Rising Tide of Fakes in Medieval Numismatics
Hold that hammered coin to the light, friends – the shadows of deception grow longer by the day. Having handled thousands of pieces from Crusader gros to English groats, I can tell you modern forgers have upped their game. But take heart! This guide will sharpen your eye for the telltale signs separating treasure from trash. We’ll dive deep into the forensic details that make or break a coin’s numismatic value: weight tolerances, magnetic secrets, and those all-important die markers. Whether you’re examining a wafer-thin German bracteate or a battle-scarred Charles VI gold Ecu d’or, these techniques could save both your wallet and your reputation.
Why Hammered Coins Sing a Siren Song to Forgers
The Perfect Storm of History and Craft
There’s something magical about holding a piece of silver that passed through medieval hands – and forgers know it. The very qualities we collectors cherish in hammered coins make them vulnerable:
- The irregular strikes from hand-cut dies
- The charming weight variations
- The unique patina of centuries
Consider these forum favorites through a detective’s lens:
- Augsburg Bracteate (1184-1202): That delicate concave shape should feel like holding moonlight – not modern machine-stamped tin
- Henry VI Groat (1431-1432): A proper 3.9-4.2g weight sings of authenticity when balanced on your palm
- Charles VI Gold Ecu d’or (1380-1422): Look for the soft wear patterns only Hundred Years’ War commerce could create
“The most dangerous fakes wear the mask of genuine variation while ignoring metallurgical truth” – Auction House Authentication Report, 2023
Five Sacred Tools for Authentication
1. Weight Analysis: Your First Love Letter to Authenticity
Memorize these sweet spots:
- Elizabeth I Sixpence (1575): 2.7-3.0g (that Eglantine mintmark should whisper, not shout)
- Crusader Gros of Hugo IV (1324-1359): 4.1-4.4g – a Crusader’s promise in silver weight
- Sigismund II Half-Grosz (1550): 1.45-1.55g – where precision meets history
When our forum member shared their Henry VIII Groat, my heart leapt seeing its 3.05g weight snug in the 1509-1526 standard range. Remember: modern casts often betray themselves with 0.2-0.5g excess from sloppy alloys.
2. Magnetic Secrets: The Silver’s Silent Testimony
Gold’s indifference to magnets is well-known, but medieval silver has its own proud defiance:
- Dangle that N50 neodymium magnet like a pendulum of truth
- True medieval silver scoffs at magnetism – zero attraction means everything
- Test multiple edge points – layered fakes often reveal their shame at the rim
That Scottish Alexander III penny (1280-1286) in our forum? If it twitches toward the magnet, mourn its modern alloy soul.
3. Die Markers: The Mint Master’s Fingerprint
These tiny imperfections are our direct link to medieval moneyers. Compare these telltale signs like a numismatic Shakespearean scholar:
| Coin | Authenticity’s Whisper | Forgery’s Tell |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop Udalschalk Bracteate | Broken staff tip on reverse (the mint’s bad day) | Pristine staff = modern perfectionism |
| William Longsword Bracteate | 13-15 irregular denticles (like medieval Morse code) | Cookie-cutter 12 denticles |
| King John Penny (Gisors Hoard) | Doubled crosslet in ‘I’ of HENRIC (the die’s stutter) | Too-clean lettering |
4. Know Thy Enemy: The Forger’s Playbook Revealed
From auction seizures to our own forum’s trophy cases:
- EDM Fakes: Devilishly detailed but pitted like acne under 10x magnification
- Cast Copies: Legends go soft like bad cheese – inspect ‘POSVI DEV’ on Henry VIII reverses
- Tooled Surfaces: Artificial wear that disrespects natural circulation patterns
5. When Doubt Whispers: Bring Out the Big Guns
For those “too good to be true” moments:
- Specific Gravity Tests: That gold Ecu d’or should dance between 17.2-17.5 SG
- XRF Analysis: Zinc and nickel fingerprints scream “modern imposter!”
- Microscopic Scrutiny: Genuine strikes show flow lines like silvery rivers; casts expose porous lies
The Allure of Rarity: Tread Carefully, Collect Wisely
When our forum lit up over that 1418 Aachen piece and Heidelberg-attributed rarities, my advice echoed through centuries:
- Consult die studies like they’re medieval gospels (Bahrfeldt’s Prussian work is gold)
- Trace provenance through hoard records like Reigate’s buried secrets
- For “1 of 2 known” claims – demand documentation worthy of royal charter
Conclusion: Guardians of Numismatic Truth
There’s nothing more satisfying than the soft “clink” of a genuine medieval coin in your palm – a sound forged in history, not deception. As you weigh your Henry VI groat or study the die breaks on a Scottish penny, remember: you’re not just verifying collectibility, you’re preserving whispers from the past. With flood of sophisticated fakes – especially targeting Crusader issues and English hammered silver – our vigilance becomes sacred duty. Arm yourself with these tools, trust but verify, and may your collection grow with pieces worthy of the ages. Now go forth – that next rare variety awaits your expert eye!
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