| Description |
Middle 19th Century British Counterfeit Detector A very rare counterfeit coin detector in the form of a wooden box with a brass lid with slots for coins of nine different denominations (crown, half crown, florin, shilling, sovereign, half sovereign, three pence, four pence, and six pence). The slots were designed to authenticate the coins by size; once the coin passed through the appropriate slot, it was balanced on a rocker inside the box to check its weight. Only coins with the correct size and weight were dropped into the box below while counterfeit pieces remained stuck in the mechanism. The device was patented by G. Davis in 1853, British Patent number 1979. Approximate dimensions: 7.0 x 5.0 x 2.5 inches. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15068 (realized $660).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11647 |
