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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Danske skilling coin dated 1693

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Expert: - 8/14/2009


Question
Hello,
I had found this coin in an antique cabinet I bought at an auction. It appears very thin and has a dark wear to it. I had soaked it in water to try to see the markings and on it is what appears to be a crown with scroll work below is and on the reverse is some type of lion or something. Do you have an idea what this coin would be worth? I could try and take a picture but I am afraid that you would not be able to see it too clearly. Thank you.

Answer

dk-4-marck-1693
Hi Pamela,
This coin from Denmark comes in several denominations of skilling, which would usually be around the perimeter above the word "skilling". Typically you see the II, IIII, XII and XXIIII. I've included a picture of a larger coin from the same series - is this the design on your coin?
If so, these are scarce and very popular, especially among the Scandinavian collectors.
The values are progressively higher for the large denominations. However, book values on the American market are much too conservative. For example, I recently had a similar "rough" coin from 1766 with a book value of about $25. It sold at eBay auction for over 3x that value. The same would be true for your coin if it's in decent and readable condition.
It's also worth noting that contemporary counterfeits (of the same time period as the real thing) are known to exist. These are collectible in their own right and can fetch nearly as a high a price as the real thing. The reason it has a dark surface is likely due to the low silver content (about 30-35%), which causes the oxidation and thus the dark patina.
I can give you more specific info if you have a picture or can make out the exact denomination and relative condition. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail at BetweenEarthnSky@yahoo.com
Thanks for the question and best of luck with your coin! =)
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentDimitry was quite helpful and very prompt in resonding. Appears to be quite knowledgeable of coins in every aspect. He was very pleasant to deal with and would highly recommend him for any coin related question. If I was ever in doubt again I would surely seek him out again. Pamela


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Dmitry Livshits

Expertise

My specialty is world coins from the 18th to 20th centuries, primarily non-US foreign coins and related areas such as errors and exonumia (tokens, medals, etc.). I can answer questions relating to identification, grading, selling, preservation and evaluation of such items. In addition to catalog value, I can give you the practical market value and trends for specific types of coins. I will also take questions regarding counterfeits (both modern and antique) and on how to identify them. I am NOT knowledgeable in paper money/banknotes, ancient or "shipwreck" coins. Thank you.

Experience

Collector of world coins since early childhood. Access to a variety of auction records and reference material. You can also find me on Facebook.

Education/Credentials
A.S. in Psychology (2006), B.A. in Forensic Psychology (2008), M.A. in Forensic Psychology (2011).

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