Expert: PAPAJACK - 3/2/2009

Question
I have a coin that I don't know anything about, I found it in a wall of a old house we were remodeling. It looks silver and it appears 2 be a half dollar? On the front is a lady with a roman dress it looks like and she is sitting on a box with a symbol on it, she also is holding a sword or sceptre with her right arm and positioned between her legs and her left behind her head as if she were resting. On front of coin: it says Securitas at top and 29 die martis 1819 in box she's sitting on and antverpia. On the back of coin it says naves et edes assecurate and there is a wreath or ivy going around the coin.
Could someone please tell me anything about the coin/value or what does the words say on the coin.
Thanks Frances


Answer
Hello Frances,                            

I cannot answer accurately for all foreign coins they are not my field.

Many of them are common and contain no precious metal. Your library will have them listed in "Catalog of World Coins".
Here is what I can tell you though.

If you have a piece that has no denomination on it then it cannot be a coin.  
All coins must have a country of origin, a denomination and the proper mottoes on them to be a legal tender somewhere.

You do not say what the piece is made of.
What color is it?
Why do you think it is a Half Dollar?

Does this piece have the mottoes below?

Obverse: SECURITAS ANTVERPIA  -  29 DIE MARTIS 1819
Reverse: "NAVES ET AEDES ASSECURATE"

BELGIUM 1819 INSURANCE MEDAL
There are many medals made and I do not catalog them but yours seemed to translate to an award medal.
The value it may be assigned depends on the metal it is made of. The quality of artwork on it and the state of preservation.

I cannot say if there is a Medallion section at this site but a library might have a book on European medals.

Sorry I cannot help you.

Good Luck

PapaJack