Jester's Challenge #249

1jester · December 11, 2004 6:26AM

Welcome to Jester's Challenge, an interactive history lesson.

It is my hope that this series will provide us with much entertainment, knowledge, and friendship, through the active participation of as many people as possible. Please tell us what you know of this coin, or anything related to it. Thank you all!

Here's selection number 249:

JamminJ · December 11, 2004 11:14AM

That's a tough one. I'll at least get the ball rolling and guess it is made of silver.

-JamminJ

rhound1977 · December 11, 2004 8:52PM

Some body on a horse?

Philip · December 11, 2004 10:37PM

Let me guess... A Denar from Lithuania from the 15th century or earlier?

1jester · December 11, 2004 10:46PM

It's indeed a silver (thank you Jammin'!) denar (thank you Philip!), but from the early 12th century. Apparantly it's a copy of a Roman design, as I was told by Mrs. RareCanadian. Both sides are themes found on Roman coins, but these are comparatively cruder renditions. The obverse shows the king with a sword about to separate a prisoner from his head. The king holds a mace in his left hand, if the sword somehow fails to get the message across. The prisoner cowers in fear (who wouldn't, in his case?). The reverse shows a large hare running for his life, but failing as the eagle's talons sink into his fleshy back. Time for lunch!!!

Where is it from?

1jester · December 13, 2004 10:23AM

Since nobody's interested in answering this, even after so many clues....

, I'll have to do it myself. It's a silver denar from Poland, minted by the illustrious King Vladislav the Exile, who reigned from 1138-46 before being run out of the country by his brothers. His dad had split up the country by dividing the inheritance into 4 regions, each controlled by one son. The other 3 treacherous siblings ganged up on poor Vladislav and kicked him out. He was later killed.

In any case, I love the themes of this king. Here' another one of his: one brutal dude

1jester · December 13, 2004 10:24AM

What happened to my Jester's Challenge #20????

WORLD & ANCIENT COINS FORUM [ REFRESH ]

Thread Title: Jester's Challenge #20
Created On Tuesday March 04, 2003 1:16 PM

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JamminJ · December 14, 2004 4:34AM

In the future whenever I really don't know about a challenge I'm going to guess "Poland."

-JamminJ

ColinCMR · December 14, 2004 6:58PM

I like this coin, but I can't tell why, besides its cool history.

syraq · December 15, 2004 7:32PM

Very appealing coin Jester, nice story behind it too. Mrs rareCanadian seems to be very knowledgeable .

coinkat · December 16, 2004 10:27AM

great looking coin and an interesting story... I really didn't think it was Sluggo and Mr. Bill anyway...

1jester · December 16, 2004 4:56PM

Thanks for the comments, folks!! I'm glad you like this selection.

Apropos these Challenges, I'm dismayed that some of them are now apparantly gone from the archives (like #20). If this continues, I'll consider discontinuing this reference work because I'm not happy to do this work only to have them disappear.

JamminJ · December 17, 2004 5:10AM

There's a fixed period of time before stuff disappears into the archives. If you want to save the challenges from that fate they need to be ttt'd every year or so.

-JamminJ

Philip · December 17, 2004 5:18PM

<< <i>Thanks for the comments, folks!! I'm glad you like this selection.

Apropos these Challenges, I'm dismayed that some of them are now apparantly gone from the archives (like #20). If this continues, I'll consider discontinuing this reference work because I'm not happy to do this work only to have them disappear.

>>

I must have an almost complete archive somewhere on a disc. Problem is, I always saved the first page only.

1jester · December 17, 2004 10:34PM

"There's a fixed period of time before stuff disappears into the archives." --JJ

Damn, I wish I'd known about that.

I"ll try to ttt the remaining ones to save them.

Jester's Challenge #249

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