Hi Reddit,
There is a story to this thing I found in the backyard of my parents. I found it when I was a kid somewhere between 2002 and 2004. I didn’t think much of it then and put it in a box somewhere in the garage and found it again today. I really have no idea what this thing is, how old it is and what purpose it had.
Basic information:
Weight: 1.035 grams
Diameter: 12 centimeters
Thickness: 1,5 centimeters
Color: Gold colored
Not magnetic
Found in the province of Limburg, Netherlands
Text on the plate: HISPAR REX KAROLVS D NL 2000 WWW
Since I have absolutely no knowledge of metals of any kind I took it to a gold buyer. He has confirmed that it is definitely not gold, but can’t tell me what type of material it is.
I also excluded that the number “2000” would be the year of when it’s made. I found it in the backyard around 2002 / 2004. My parents live in that house since 1996. There is no open access to the backyard, so it would be highly unlikely that anyone would have put it there.
Anyone any suggestions?
The figure depicted is Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, whose kingdoms included the Spanish Netherlands. The depiction is similar to that shown on these coins. HISP.REX.KAROLUS is a Latin abbreviation of "Charles, King of Spain". Unfortunately I think the 2000 does refer to the year of this item's production. Charles V was born in 1500 and a number of countries that he ruled made commemorative items marking 500 years since his birth. Spain for example produced a 2000 Peseta coin with Charles V on it.
Furthermore I think the whole text reads as a web address:
www.hisparrexkarolusd.nl or something like that, though it doesn't lead anywhere.
Can't tell you what its precise purpose was, beyond some kind of commemorative piece/promotion, but it's certainly modern.
I think it's a keystone from Charle quint reign. Not the keystone but something screwd on it.