syzygy Posted June 17, 2005 Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 After selecting two coins during my last visit to one of my favorite coin shops, I hit the three boxes of six-for-a-buck world coins – it’s become a ritual. In this case, thanks to a post here about shapes as a topical, I was gathering up a few multi-sided varieties. Then I spotted this oddball. It looked like a proof medal of some kind. While checking out, the dealer (who is always extremely friendly) told me that it should not have been in the “junk” box. I asked him what it was and he replied that he thought it was silver and gave it a drop on the counter (the ring test). “Silver?? Really? - nahhhh” I was perfectly willing to pass it up and offered to do so, but he said no, so it came back with me. Anybody recognize it? I did some searching on the net and the Sutu Palace is a famous palace in Bucharest and very rich with history. Apparently, this is some kind of commemorative piece, but I did not find it listed anywhere – anybody recognizes it? It weighs about 9.7 grams and is 28 cm in diameter. To satisfy my curiosity, I did a quick test to measure its specific gravity (the technique I used is illustrated here if you are interested: http://www.mendosus.com/sg.html ). And what do you know; it came out at about 10.3-10.4 – right around the value for high purity silver. So, I learned a couple of things: 1) I can’t tell the “twang” from silver and 2) Coin dealers who have been looking at silver coins for the last kazillion years can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggit Posted June 17, 2005 Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 I don't know if it is silver, but what the heck is that picture? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trantor_3 Posted June 17, 2005 Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 eastern europe.... Akdrv? Kuhli? Banivechi? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabbs Posted June 17, 2005 Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 eastern europe.... A medal from Romania, I'd say. The "left" side has an inscription about the Municipal Museum in Bucharest ... Christian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 In 2003 the National Bank of Romania put out a mint set comprising the "Sutu Palace Bucharest" silver medal. This may be what you have, the medal from the mint set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syzygy Posted June 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 In 2003 the National Bank of Romania put out a mint set comprising the "Sutu Palace Bucharest" silver medal. This may be what you have, the medal from the mint set. Thanks for all the replies. Sounds about right. I have been looking online..just because not knowing is a pain...but no luck yet... The National Bank and State Mint looked like they were going to be good hits. http://www.bnro.ro/def_en.htm http://www.monetariastatului.ro/index-en.html But nothing yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28Plain Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 I got a great medal from a junkbox today. It's about 30mm, extremely high relief portrait of Joan of Arc on the obverse and a lower relief image of the Joan of Arc basilica in Domremy. On the obverse is 1412-1431 and below those two dates is 1909. It seems to be struck in nickel. This is now my favorite exonumia find from a junkbox even though I paid silver melt price for it by weight and it turned out not to be silver. I had thought it was low fineness silver from the color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banivechi Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 This medal was initially in a 2003 mint set dedicated to Bucarest City Museum containing proof coins of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 lei. The medal is from 800/1000 silver,28 mm, 10 grams in Proof quality, mintage of 10.000 ex. Official price of mintset was in 2003 400.000 lei (aprox 20$). Only the medat today is in value of 20$... nice aquisition! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syzygy Posted June 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 This medal was initially in a 2003 mint set dedicated to Bucarest City Museum containing proof coins of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 lei.The medal is from 800/1000 silver,28 mm, 10 grams in Proof quality, mintage of 10.000 ex. Official price of mintset was in 2003 400.000 lei (aprox 20$). Only the medat today is in value of 20$... nice aquisition! cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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