Two “Gorska Industria” tokens are presented for consideration, presumably related to the period of activity of the Balabanov brothers, Kocherinovo village, Bulgaria. At present, the attribution and authenticity of these items have not been definitively established.
As a convenient visual reference for comparison, one element of the design has been selected — the fir tree located behind the hindquarters of the deer, specifically the number and character of the branches on the left side of the trunk. It should be emphasized that this element is used solely for illustrative purposes: the differences between the tokens are not limited to the fir tree alone. Overall, noticeable discrepancies can be observed in the composition, proportions, and engraving style, indicating the use of different, non-matching matrices (dies).
- Token 1: the fir tree shows twelve (12) left-side branches, with a more detailed and carefully executed design.
- Token 2: the same fir tree shows eight (8) left-side branches, with a noticeably more simplified and less detailed execution.
At this stage, several interpretations of these differences are possible, including the use of different matrices, different production stages or series, as well as other factors that have not yet been established. At the same time, Token 2 raises more doubts for me, as it appears less carefully executed: the engraving is simplified, the level of detail is lower, and the overall impression suggests that less attention was paid to the rendering of the design.
I would kindly ask forum members who have at least some information regarding the “Gorska Industria” tokens to share their knowledge and help clarify this matter, as my current information is quite limited. I would appreciate any reliable data, references, archival mentions, or comparable specimens that could help determine the origin and status of these tokens.
