Albania 1927 PROVA FR.100 copper — unlisted pattern or fantasy?

Hello,

I recently acquired this Albanian piece dated 1927 marked PROVA FR.100 (Zog I / Romagnoli type).

Specs:

• Diameter: 37–38 mm
• Weight: 26.85 g
• Metal: copper
• Edge: FERT

The module matches the known 5 Franga PROVA copper, but the denomination is 100 Franga, which I cannot find referenced.

Does anyone know if this is a documented pattern, a mint fantasy, or a later restrike?

Thanks in advance for any information.

Similar to this one N#40674 but SCWC does not mention a copper one.

It doesn’t look copper to me, more Brass or coated that colour to make it look like gold.

The silver one rsirian linked is so rare there isn‘t even a correct image (as they had to use the 5 Franga Ari image for the 100) on the Obverse. This one has according to the page a reeded edge, where as the OPs has „fert“ inscription. The weight and diameter don‘t seem to match the 100 Franga either and are closest to the silver 5.

N#24272

For this coin there is also a different edge inscription, but in the comments it notes that those with „fert fert“ are modern replicas. Maybe the OPs coin is also a modern replica. The chances of finding 1 of 50 (assumption due to other probe coin numbers in this year) of an unrecorded probe is going to be pretty unlikely, and seems almost too good to be true. Which brings me back to the colour, if it is not gold, even the copper (maybe brass) and silver ones, if genuine, are going to be worth a fortune, so why try and coat it to make it gold colour.

I would say modern unrecorded replica, but it looks really good, so I would try contacting the Albanian national bank to ask if they have a list of replicas of this set of coins.

Hi,

Thank you for your detailed analysis — much appreciated.

I have carefully rechecked the edge, and there are indeed three “FERT” inscriptions on the edge.

I am attaching additional photos (including the edge) for better examination.

Any further thoughts are very welcome.

Best regards,

The number of „fert“s doesn’t really matter, I wrote 2 ferts because it was the same as the comment, but I was going to write just one. I am sure whoever wrote the comment and from wherever they got the information, the fert fert is just an abbreviated axample, 2 ferts around an edge would never be enough, and someone has just written fert fert instead of fert fert fert fert and so on.

Again though I am not an expert on Albanian coins, and someone with more knowledge and a special specific catalogue would need to comment. But due to the fact that NGC, Numismaster and SCWC doesn’t have a Brass / Copper or Gold version of this coin listed, would point to a modern replica.

The modern replicas may have been produced in conjunction with the Albanian national bank / government. They would be a great place to contact to start with.

That “fert” was the motto of the house of Savoy, and it's on the edge of lot of Italian coins up until the end of WW2.
Check out the edge images for example here and here, even the stars and the knots between the words are very similar.
It's a good indication that something is off with the coin.