Can Anyone Help Identify This, Please?

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 2,353
Etheri New Member United Kingdom 2 Posts	Posted 04/08/2022 6:38 pm I came across this while clearing out my uncle's house. It was in with a collection of 19th and early 20th century Asian and Middle Eastern coins, and I have no idea what it is. It's 19mm diameter. I don't know the weight as I haven't got any scales. I'd be grateful for any ideas as I'm not even sure which way up it's meant to be! thank you. Report this Post to the Staff

mrwhatisit Pillar of the Community United States 2955 Posts	Posted 04/08/2022 7:02 pm , you came to the best place to ask us! Were glad you can join us! This to me looks like an Arabic play money token since I don't see an Arabic date of any sort. The Germans have an equivalent called spiel-marks or play money. It also looks like to be from the earlier part of the 1900's since it has that aged look. Edited by mrwhatisit 04/08/2022 7:04 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Kushanshah Pillar of the Community United States 1554 Posts	Posted 04/09/2022 03:47 am Loosely based on an Ottoman coin but there are no inscriptions just meaningless squiggles. Report this Post to the Staff
Seeker55 Pillar of the Community United States 634 Posts	Posted 04/09/2022 6:40 pm I agree not real Arabic (or any other) writing, a fantasy piece. Edited by Seeker55 04/09/2022 6:56 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Etheri New Member United Kingdom 2 Posts	Posted 04/09/2022 7:51 pm Thanks everyone, I know very little about coins, but I do have a rudimentary understanding of Arabic script, so it's reassuring to know that is gibberish to other people too! Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 188638 Posts	Posted 04/11/2022 10:15 am to the Community! Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16830 Posts	Posted 04/11/2022 9:28 pm The OP's coin is clearly Ottoman-inspired, but equally clearly not intended to be examined up close by anyone that could actually read Arabic. So as for what it is, I have two suggestions. First, is the stock-standard answer whenever we encounter a crude replica of an Ottoman-era coin: a costume-jewellery piece, also known as a "belly dancer token". The fact that this piece is not pierced for wearing on a costume implies this may not be true here. Second option, is a "magician's advertisement coin". 19th and early 20th century travelling magicians would advertise their shows by giving away weird, esoteric-looking tokens. Some of these tokens have designs deriving from genuine Asian or middle eastern coins. 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 Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 6 / Views: 2,353

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