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 Replies: 13 / Views: 717 |
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CCF Advertiser
 United States
1303 Posts |
Edited by louisvillekyshop
01/08/2026 10:58 am
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Valued Member
United States
108 Posts |
Is that metal or ceramic? Magnetic? Nice color anyway.  |
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CCF Advertiser
 United States
1303 Posts |
It is bronze. Here is the empty flip. It has Egypt crossed out then OLBYA? written. So a past collector was thinking Olbia on the black sea.   Edited by louisvillekyshop
01/08/2026 12:02 pm
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
Pretty interesting piece @lou. I'm not sure that I can shed much light on this piece other that to acknowledge that Olbia is one of many places that had a star as the main design element on their coins (e.g. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5720110). I'll keep looking around though and circle back if I find anything closer. Any chance you can read the inscription? It looks a bit like Tau and Gamma to start, but the image is a smidge out of focus so you might have better luck with the coin in hand. Thx. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1861 Posts |
imo---This is a bronze coin, likely a prutah or similar denomination, minted during the First Jewish Revolt against the Romans (66-70 CE). It features an omer cup (a vessel used in the Temple service) on one side and is dated to the fourth year of the revolt (69-70 CE).
Historical Context: Struck during a time of severe famine and civil war within Jerusalem, just months before the city's destruction.
Symbolism: The inscription, in ancient Hebrew, translates to "For the Redemption of Zion," symbolizing hope for freedom from Roman rule.
Material: Made of bronze (AE).
Rarity: Coins from the fourth year of the revolt are considered rare due to the dire conditions at the time of minting.
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
Mike: Thanks for writing. I don't believe this coin is ancient Jewish and I am posting better photos to help out.    |
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
Huh. I don't recall having ever seen any ancient coins with such a crude design; certainly not bronze ones and not ones where the design didn't take up the entire flan. It feels like either an imitation of something (what?) or a much later coin made to look old.
There is no inscription, though there might be an imitation of one.
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
I was also thinking India but wasn't sure of any specifics. The design reminds me a bit of Pondicherry fanams, but those are generally less crude, smaller, and silver.
I'll try to search on Numista and Zeno but I'd be surprised if I find anything.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1861 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5238 Posts |
I recognize that; I think that I have one. It is from Northwest India, and one side is supposed to be a hill, I think. let me look for it.
Update: I can't locate the coin at the moment nor do I recall the name of the group/ tribe/ kingdom. It is around 2000 years old, if I recall correctly.
Edited by oriole
01/24/2026 5:57 pm
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
I've been following this thread for a while but with nothing to add. As the potential attribution has swung to India, I have a couple thoughts as a non-expert. Some of these design elements like the Chakra , the hill, and the grouping of pellets are found on old Indian coins, but with some differences too. For example, virtually all of the hills that I have seen on these coins are triple-arched, while this one is clearly singular. The only possible counter-example I can think of (in addition perhaps to the OP's coin) are some gold Fanams of Cochin, which feature a stylized woman that is vaguely hill-like with her drooping arms. Maybe it is time to reach out to @drnsreedhar for a learned opinion?
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5238 Posts |
I finally remembered the coins I was thinking about. It was from the Kingdom of Taxila ((ca 200 BCE) which used the three arch hill symbol you see on the coin. I don't have a match for the coin, but this is where it seems to be pointing. There are many varieties, some locally issued.
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
Well, aside from the hill, on the reverse, there are India coins with a wheel and dots. So just like is this a hill on the one side, is that a wheel or a star on the other? Or something else? And that pattern below or above the pellets: That reminds me of the Greek Syrinx who was turned into reeds when she was running from Pan to the river. As for it being a modern fantasy coin, I always think of what profit is there to make such a thing. It is not patterned after anything that is valuable, and to age it like that would take some artistry to pull that off if it was not ancient somewhat. Be willing to drop the hill or wheel or star or pellets or whatever and show someone with fresh eyes we don't bias to anything or place I am thinking. It might be something completely different even. By the way, flip that hill over and it could be an eye with eye lashes?
Edited by louisvillekyshop
01/25/2026 6:52 pm
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Replies: 13 / Views: 717 |
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Posted 01/08/2026 10:58 am
