Gold 3.34 g. Piece made by Fajn - a well-known, Minsk-based 19th century forger.
Fajn, also known as Fein, was one of the most talented coin forgers of the 19th century. Probably originating from Minsk, the goldsmith and engraver became famous for making excellent forgeries, mainly of Polish ducats and royal thalers. Unlike most counterfeiters of his era, he did not cast coins using primitive methods, but engraved stamps with his own hands and struck coins in silver and gold, imitating the techniques of ancient mints. His works were so excellent that they sometimes found their way into museums and numismatic catalogs as authentic rarities.
Fajn collaborated with attorney Hausmann and trader Zelman Igl, who organized and sold counterfeit coins on the collectors' market. In the numismatics community he was regarded as a true "artist among counterfeiters."
Interestingly, today Fajn's forgeries are valuable and sought-after collector's items, being testimony to the extraordinary talent and master craftsmanship of their creator.
