Unknown Ancient Gold Coin, any ideas what it is?

rgCoinGuy

This is part of a long story, but I don't want to pollute any responses yet with that info. So, does anyone have any idea what this coin is? I have not seen it in person and sorry, no picture of the other side, but it is suppose to be made out of gold. Any info or ideas would be appreciated, I will tell the story in a couple days (some here may actually know where this came from, I am not sure.) Thank you! Rob

coachleonard

Hmmm-- something about it says late roman or byzantine to me. Has that style of cross, if that IS a cross.

Sapyx

It's not like any ancient coin I'm familiar with.

Do you know how big it is?

rgCoinGuy

<< <i>

Do you know how big it is? >>



Slightly bigger than a penny

It is very possible that the coin is a hoax, the story behind it is questionable. This was the answer from a first time poster on another board: "That coin is VERY close in resemblance to the tribal coins that were stamped before and during the bronze age of Britain. The markings would represent a particular tribe so the gods could distinguish the size of each tribes offerings. "

I have no idea if that is true or not. Any one else have any ideas? I will post some links to the story behind it tomorrow for anyone interested. Thanks, Rob

percyb

No idea. I'll guess 3rd Ming dynasty....

Sapyx

<< <i>Do you know how big it is?

Slightly bigger than a penny >>



Now, why didn't I notice that cent picture there before?


<< <i>"That coin is VERY close in resemblance to the tribal coins that were stamped before and during the bronze age of Britain. The markings would represent a particular tribe so the gods could distinguish the size of each tribes offerings. " >>


Um, unless your informant knows something the rest of us don't, the "Bronze Age" was before coinage was invented. If there were actually Celtic artefacts that looked like this, they'd be votive offerings and not "coins" in the normal sense of the word. When Celtic Britain began making coins (at or after 150 BC - well into the Iron Age), they made imitations of Greek coins.

If anything, the cross looks Dark Age Byzantine or Byzantine imitative - Vandals, Visigoths, Duchy of Benevento, something like that. Bot all of those normally have Latin text around the cross... I don't see any trace of it here. Unless it's been clipped away?

Unless it's just a button...

rgCoinGuy

Thanks, my guess is this is just another part of an elaborate hoax, but that is just my opinion. This was supposedly found in a cave in southern Illinois, and this coin picture was posted as proof of some of the "treasure" that was discovered there on the "Ancient Lost Treasures" forum by the discoverer of the cave. Here is an overview of the story, and googling it you will find all kinds of information, some for, and a lot against, the story. I was just curious if anyone here had seen anything like this before. Again, thanks for the responses! Rob

Sapyx

Ah. Diffusionists.

ozzysdad47

I knew that this coin resembled something i had seen in Krause under India my book is a 2005, But on page 1034 Y# 13 PIE has the same cross design on it. Could this possibly be a coin from India? I have to question the whole B.C. thing myself..... Doe's the coin in question have any inscription on the opposite side?