Be still, my heart! (Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the novelty coins)

Well, this was embarrassing... I was going through the giant 20 lbs lot I got on ebay a few weeks ago, and I noticed a funny-looking coin with an unusual script and the date 1403 on it. It had a pine tree on the obverse and a cross with some squiggly stuff around it on the reverse.

The only matching items in the catalog were the silver coins from the Free imperial city of Aachen. They didn't match entirely, mind you, and since I couldn't find any coins featuring a pine tree, I came to the brilliant conclusion that I must have discovered a new, hitherto unknown 614-year-old silver coin.

After taking a lot of pictures of said coin, I came this close to posting a very enthusiastic-sounding request on the "Coin identifications and valuations" forum. Fortunately, I decided to give google one last try - otherwise, y'all would have ended up with the most hilarious thread in history. After going through some pictures on the google image search, I've found my precious! After following the link to a derelict message board, I realized that my potential retirement fund was, in fact, a novelty 1 penny copper Shire coin from Lord of the Rings. According to some sources, its value is a whopping $4, assuming I manage to find a buyer for it. As it is, it could work as a rather cruel and meta joke - getting its new owner's hopes up after they fail to find it in traditional coin catalogs.

What about you? Do you have similar stories about "unicorn" coins that seemed like the find of a lifetime? (I hope it wasn't just me!)

I have 1 that is similiar.
I joined Numista after collecting coins for about a month. I did a swap for some rare silver coins and I was ecstatic when I got them. I did 2 more swaps with this gentlemen for the same type of rare coins. Quite valuable swaps...I really thought I had this hobby down.I even sent pics to other members.
Then I was reading some articles on how weight,measurements,composition and condition were essential to knowing if coins were legit.
So, I weighed 1. It was under weight by almost 1/3. I weighed another, same thing. After weighing all of them, 14 weighed the exact same. It was the lowest point of my collecting days, to this day.
I contacted the member, who after some conversation, and a period of time, said he traded them in good faith.. I tend to believe him, but Im not totally convinced.
After all was said and done , he compensated me and all is good.
I know how fortunate I am , some never find resolution. This swap taught me more about collecting coins then I could ever get from books. And I never count my chickens before they hatch.
John

I didn't know there were Shire Pennies but now I definitely want one. It's beautiful and I'm a big nerd, so it's a really good fit.

Citeer: "MonaSeaclaid"​I didn't know there were Shire Pennies but now I definitely want one. It's beautiful and I'm a big nerd, so it's a really good fit.

​I'm with you in this, I wanted one as soon as I saw this!

At johnspa, if he compensated you, I would be surprised that he was a cheat, but then, for him to have so many fake coins......
you might send messages to the others he had swapped with.

Citeer: "redsmithstudios"​

Citeer: "MonaSeaclaid"​I didn't know there were Shire Pennies but now I definitely want one. It's beautiful and I'm a big nerd, so it's a really good fit.

​​I'm with you in this, I wanted one as soon as I saw this!
​
​At johnspa, if he compensated you, I would be surprised that he was a cheat, but then, for him to have so many fake coins......
​ you might send messages to the others he had swapped with.

​Redsmith, Ya he compensated me. Only because he refused to return my coins ,and sent me coins of his choosing. Took about 2+ months. I was glad to get anything.
And I did make it known in the community on the Forum.