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Is This A Falus From Morocco?

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New Member

United States
3 Posts
 Posted 05/18/2012  12:17 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add portlandcoins to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Please see attached pictures. 6-pointed star with a dot in the center on one side. Other side says 1286 and has some other writing/symbols. Very closely resembles images I can find of a Morocco falus coin from the 1860s, except for the circles which surround the star. On every example I find online, these 2 concentric circles have radial lines connecting the two (see http://monnaiescoloniales.free.fr/c...us1286.html). But this one doesn't appear to have anything between the circles. Is this just a difference in its manufacture, or could it indicate a counterfeit?

Similar coins found online:
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/col.../?irn=310848

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Falus-Mor...t_500wt_1227

http://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/M...6-Fs_4_falus

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAP...t_500wt_1227

Is-This-A-Falus-From-Morocco?

Is-This-A-Falus-From-Morocco?
Bedrock of the Community
sel_69l's Avatar
Australia
21788 Posts
 Posted 05/18/2012  12:33 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Strange coins, these.

1.) They were cast at a time when almost all coins were struck.
2.) The script for the date is also strange. Written in European style, but with an Isalmic date.
3.) The six pointed star made with crossed triangles is otherwise known as the Jewish Star of David.

Perhaps Jews, Christians and Muslims in this part of the World, at this time, were more enlightened than we are now.

These coins are essential additions to any collection of World coins for these reasons.


In consideration to your queries regarding counterfeit or nay, I am not 'up to speed' enough to be of specific help, but I will continue to follow this thread.
New Member
Turnstone's Avatar
United Kingdom
35 Posts
 Posted 05/18/2012  03:19 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Turnstone to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Morocco along with the rest of North Africa had a large Jewish population from ancient times which was prominent in Mediterranean trade. This population was boosted by the expulsions from Spain and Italy in the 1400's and 1500's which would have been more familiar with European languages and numbers.

I would recommend a book Great Sea, a human history of the Mediterranean by David Abulafia for lots of background information. It is especially strong on the ancient Greeks, Jews and Venice and Genoa of the middle ages.

All the Moroccan cast coins I have come across have all been rough and knobbly and and given the low value I doubt it is worth faking them.
Valued Member
ZiggyZ's Avatar
United States
162 Posts
 Posted 05/18/2012  04:08 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add ZiggyZ to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I would note that the people making and using this coin would not have seen the star as a Jewish symbol. It was (I assume still is) a common feature in Islamic art, and is part of many Moroccan coins.
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alganbagerap's Avatar
United Kingdom
2490 Posts
 Posted 05/18/2012  04:32 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add alganbagerap to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Forgeries do exist. According to Krause:
Note: Underweight 6.00 grams or less,with mintnames of Fes or Marrakesh, or with illegible inscriptions and dates are contemporary forgeries, often with smaller diameters; size varies 27-29 mm.
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