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 Replies: 16 / Views: 5,953 |
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New Member
Australia
4 Posts |
Hi there all. Long time reader but first time poster as hoping to identify this coin if one (and I'm sure there is) more knowledgable than me. Many thanks in advance.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
Just a guess. The obverse shows St. George slaying the dragon and the peacocks may represent Saint Peter. Maybe some sort of English Religious medal?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
With Arabic writing? St George is also recognized in some sects of Islam. There's even a holy place in Beirut where tradition held he slayed a dragon; perhaps this token is associated with that place?
And welcome dno222!
Edited by philadelphian
09/07/2013 12:46 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
St. George was born in Turkey. Alas, Have found nothing on this medallion all is conjecture.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
Any readers of Arabic out there?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
I know that in medieval art peacocks were symbols of immortality because their flesh didn't rot after death (not the the medieval people believed that, it is more like a symbol and a to key it interpret visual and literary art). It that is the motif they may be around the tree of life.
There is also a group called the Yazidi that have a peacock angel in their religion, but as I've never seen anything about them and St. George that is probably a dead end. Besides, in all their imagery I've only ever seen one peacock shown.
Edited by allranger
09/07/2013 3:54 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
Plenty of facing peacock pairs in Ottoman/Islamic art. Here's a bowl from 10th century Iraq:  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
Edited by amida17
09/07/2013 4:29 pm
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New Member
 Australia
4 Posts |
Wow. Just woke up in Australia and have all these comments here. Thank you very much.
Was searching a fair bit last night and couldnt turn up with anything as yet. Think we're on the right track. I think a translation would definitely help a bit. One thing with the coin/medal is that its quite large, cant find a tape measure but I'd say somewhere around 4cm in diameter.
I really couldn't hazard a guess as to what age it might even be.
Edited by Dno222
09/07/2013 8:49 pm
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Valued Member
Pakistan
207 Posts |
It is probably some sort of religious token for Islam, as I can't see any date or denomination on it, unless that bit on the right is a "3". I can't REALLY make out any of the text properly from the top picture, but it seems to be (from right to left) "Omar, Uthman, Idris, Ali, Abu Bakr". That would be a bit odd, because while Omar, Uthman, Ali and Abu Bakr were the first 4 Caliphs in Islam, that isn't the order of their rule, and "Idris" wasn't any of those. "Idris" is usually understood to be arabic name for the Prophet Enoch, but was also the name of a couple of Caliphs in the 13th century, so I dunno. The presence of the crescent and star (and depictions of people) would lead me to guess it probably isn't all that old, definitely not older than the 14th century (jeez, how useful, I know  ). The other side (lower picture) has "Allah" written above the flower, but I can't make out what is written above that, or inside the flowers, or underneath. Sorry I've been of so little help. I dunno how useful it'd be, but perhaps you can get bigger pictures? Or just wait for someone who can read arabic script better than me  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
Thanks for chiming in, Babar! And I was thinking the same thing about the crescent and star. Lets see if this opens any doors.
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New Member
Australia
4 Posts |
Edited by Dno222
09/08/2013 11:00 am
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Valued Member
Jordan
78 Posts |
Edited by mass
09/08/2013 07:11 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
Should have been looking farther east. Good job, mass!
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Moderator
 Australia
16849 Posts |
I have to say, I first thought "Malayan pilgrim token" based just on the style and metal, but then thought no, not with a blatant St George on it. This depiction of St George, with the flowing helmet and heavily decorated horse, is one commonly found on Christian religious medals. I'm surprised they would borrow imagery of such non-Islamic origins for this purpose. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
Wow. Once again, Sap, you blow me away. The figure on this pilgrim's token is clearly a freehand rendering of the image of St. George on the sailor's token you linked, down to the petaled flower medallion on the horse's rump!  Of course, one could expect a British sailor's token to turn up in Malaysia, once a British colony. Edited by philadelphian
09/08/2013 9:50 pm
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Replies: 16 / Views: 5,953 |
Posted 09/07/2013 06:03 am
