Coin ID help humbly requested

laurentyvan

Usually I have a hint, but not here. Maybe Spanish? This picture was taken at the coin store with lousy lighting-sorry about the image.

MadMuffin

Interesting piece! I have never seen a similar coin before so I wouldn't know anything about it. I would guess, however, that it is from the late 1500s or early 1600s. The portrait makes me think of Roman or Byzantine coins. Southern Europe somewhere?

Marcel

laurentyvan

TTT for ID-I have faith.

coachleonard

I haven't seen that particular coin before either--- but my guess is that it's a Phillip III coin (1556-98) struck in either the
Spanish Netherlands (my first choice) or Italy, perhaps Naples, Italy. Phillip III struck coins in both places.

Aethelred

That is a thingie from over there made way back when.

GDJMSP

I cannot identify the coin - but I think it's a whole lot older than the 1500's. I think it's more like 900 - 1200. The design, the legends - just the look of it makes me think this. Could be wrong though

Aethelred

On a serious note Laurent: Is there any way you could post a photo of it w/o the holder? I can't read everything because of the glare.

MadMuffin

GDJMSP, I do not think it is that old. It is very much inspired by ancient coins way back from the Roman era but if you look at the shape of the letters they do not look medieval. In the renaissance in Europe the ancient times became modern once again and people started to research the philosophy and ideology of the Greeks and Romans. Ancient sculpture and art was also studied and copied intensively, even on coins, and if the coin is from the late 1500s that would make it a late renaissance type and explain the "Roman" look.

Marcel