Leonardo silver round

[genisis1b4]

I need help with this Leonardo silver round. I can’t ID it or if it’s real. The blotches on the portrait of Leonardo seem to be some form of clay like stuff.

Or is this just one of those Chinese garbage they like making?

[Robert]

I'm not familiar with those, so I would recommend taking it to either a coin dealer/ jeweler/ pawn shop in order to ascertain whether it is actually silver or not. They can put a drop of nitiric acid on it. Depending on what happens, they may be able to prove it is silver or plated base metal. Be sure they test it in an inconspicuous area.

Another way to determine whether it's silver is to determine the specific gravity of the round. This involves weighing it while submerged in water, which requires some equipment.


My 2 cents. Anyone have any better ideas?

[Dick]

Size, and weight, (compared to a dime), or similar sized silver coin might help. spin it in the air. If your ears are good, you can hear the same sound you would, if it were one of our silver coins. Lastly, don't clean, or scrape it. If you must do "something", soak it in "GOO-GONE". Then rinse, or blot with something very soft. If Chinese "special", go after the SOB that "ripped you off"!
Looking again at the "coin", the dates, and details in general, makes me wonder, if it is a "modern ancient product. I agree that some of the Papal coins are superb, but this just don't "feel" right. Good luck.
Dick

[genisis1b4]

I purchased this from a thift shop for about two dollars with some other world coins that came out to be about 20.00.

[genisis1b4]

BTW I have the acid to test for silver.

[KurtS]

I would agree it appears to be a silver round, as I see Ag .999 1 oz below da Vinci. It's obviously a modern round with some tarnish/dirt, but I cannot tell if it's "real". The color does look like silver with some exposure. The image of da Vinci is adapted from a self-portrait drawing, and the reverse is obvious (although far from the original) Someone did a bit of work to make these adaptations to relief, so whether somebody would copy that for just a silver round is perhaps unlikely? Just some thoughts.

[genisis1b4]

Dick I did the spin test and it sounds just like the Morgan though its a bit lighter.

[KurtS]

A lighter "ring"? That's a good sign, I think.

[genisis1b4]

I just weighed it 18.8 grams, but the size of a Morgan and not as thick.

[KurtS]

Hmm...the weight is not right. 1 troy oz should be 31.1 grams.
Unless that says 1/2 oz. I'm guessing this is a silver-plated copy.

[genisis1b4]

I think your right Kurt!!!

[Dick]

I believe I see 1 OZ. I can't read the other letters/numbers, so that is debatable. I think Kurt has it pinned sdown.
Dick

[genisis1b4]

I guess this is also fake.

[Dick]

I would not say directly. It could be, but it also looks like it has had it's share of circulation. I think it is 8 Reales, and maybe Spanish. I can't read the ledgends well enough to say. Robert could very well answer your questions, because he has more experience in that area. What little that can be seen, looks like it might be Charles, or Ferdinand. My vision is my greatest hinderance.
Dick

[coppercoins]

It looks cast, and the real ones were struck. I highly doubt that's real.