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 Replies: 22 / Views: 4,493 |
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
Hi Guys, I want to identify a coin with the below description, I think it may be of Jewish heritage, and it is possible that it dates back to the Middle Ages or even earlier. The coin is a very unique and valuable object, and it is important to learn as much as we can about it A circular gold coin, made of 21-carat pure gold, weighing approximately 21 grams. Its description is as follows The front side is engraved with the Star of David, and between the tip of each triangle and the other is engraved a prominent point. In the center of the star is a prominent point from which straight lines emerge. Each line indicates an inner side of the star. Completely outside the star, and specifically between each vertex of an inscribed triangle, there is a prominent point numbering six points. The second face of the coin is even more intriguing than the first. It depicts a scorpion with open arms and a menacing expression. Between the handles of the scorpion's arms are three stars engraved in relief. Eight slanted and curved lines emerge from the inside of the scorpion, while on its back there is an incomplete triangle engraved with only two sides. The scorpion's tail consists of five adjacent circles, at the end of which is the well-known scorpion's stinger. On the left and right sides of the scorpion are three stars on each side, with a total of six stars.   Edited by kristofferreich
09/26/2023 2:28 pm
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Moderator
 United States
187446 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
@kris, when you say "21 carat pure gold", can you please let us know how you assessed the purity? 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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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1563 Posts |
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New Member
 United States
7 Posts |
@Spence Thank you for your inquiry. I already checked with a jewelry specialist to assess the purity of the 21 carat gold. The specialist used a combination of methods to test the gold, including:
Visual inspection: The specialist examined the gold for any signs of discoloration or impurities.
Hallmark test: The specialist looked for a hallmark on the gold, which is a stamp that indicates the purity of the metal.
Acid test: The specialist applied a small amount of acid to the gold to see how it reacted. Pure gold is resistant to acid, so if the gold dissolved, it indicated that it was not pure.
Based on these tests, the jewelry specialist confirmed that the gold is 21 carat pure.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3433 Posts |
Count me as a skeptic ..
As there is no such thing as "21 karat pure" I suggest you might find another expert to test it
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Pillar of the Community
United States
878 Posts |
Doesn't look like a coin to me: no writing, no ruler image or national attributes. The six-pointed star (Star of David) was used by Jews for a long time, but it really only became a symbol for Jews in the late Renaissance.
Six-pointed stars are also seen on Moroccan coinage.
To me, it looks more like a jewelry piece or zodiac token.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1563 Posts |
Quote:
As there is no such thing as "21 karat pure" I suggest you might find another expert to test it I have been testing metals for years and I still can't pinpoint gold over 14k to within a k or so. This is because the acid used at this level is for gold of 14k to 24k see pic. The only realistic way to pinpoint the accuracy to that level is by using handheld XRF analyzers.  |
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
@MetDet71
21 karat pure gold means that the gold is 87.5% pure. The remaining 12.5% is made up of other metals, such as silver, copper, or zinc. These other metals are added to make the gold more durable and to give it different colors.
21 karat gold is a popular choice for jewelry because it is durable and has a beautiful yellow color. It is also used in some electronics and medical devices.
see the table below showing the different karats of gold and their purity:
| Karat | Purity |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% pure |
| 22K | 91.67% pure |
| 21K | 87.5% pure |
| 18K | 75% pure |
| 14K | 58.3% pure |
| 10K | 41.7% pure |
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
@captainmandrake1
You're right, it's not a coin in the traditional sense. It doesn't have any writing or ruler image or national attributes. However, it is a gold coin, and it was likely used as an amulet or symbol for something. That's why I need to identify its age, because I searched it many times and found no similar coin.
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
@kris, thx for your answers. I too am a little leery of acid testing coins although the simple design elements do not necessarily rule this out from being a coin in my mind. With that said, I'm not seeing similar pieces in my usual spots on the interwebs such as zeno.ru, numista, and acsearch. Can you please post a couple pictures of the edge to this thread? 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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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
@Spence
Thank you for your concern. I was very careful in doing any tests on the coin. I only tested a small area, and I used a very gentle method. I am committed to preserving the coin and preventing any damage. I will let you see it in a video
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
@FVRIVS RVFVS
the test approved that it is above 21 Karat pure gold. As I'm not a professional in the field so I may interpret something different from the actual view.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
A typical gold test kit contains acids for 10k, 14k, 18k and 22k. If the 18k acid doesn't react and 22k reacts ever so slightly, one might call it 21k but most would buy it as 18k. Throughout the middle ages, the Star of David was primarily a Muslim symbol called the Seal of Solomon. The two symbols share a common historical root. However as Sigmund Freud might say, "Sometimes a hexagram is just a hexagram".
Edited by Kushanshah
09/26/2023 1:11 pm
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
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Replies: 22 / Views: 4,493 |
Posted 09/26/2023 08:59 am
