Indian bar coin from around 600 BCE

China
Shang Dynasty 1766-1154 BC
Ant Nose Ge Liu Zhu
2.6g 19.5x11
very scarce
Hartill 1.10


China
Zhou Dynasty 1122-255 BC
AE Chuan Bead Money
40mm


China
Shang 1766-1154 BCE or Zhou Dynasty
Ghost Face Ant Nose Coin
1.65g
Hartill 1.4

 

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That is why I have to put on the cover of my books a note: "Western Civilization's Earliest coins".
About this indian bars for the first vision that I can say: their weights little bit lower than 11,5 grams. This (11,5 grams) was a unit of ancient weight systems wich known to us as a king's (or double) hittite shekel, or holy judaean shekel. But there are an opinion, that this unit originate from most ancient times from assyrians. At middle VII BC assyrians still powerfull, so it's OK to find at same time indians silver with the same weight units. It's OK that weight of this bars a little lower than 11,5 grams. It is a usual technology aspect. The coins (and such bars) will be lower in weight than their etalon norm, becuse usual practice was to manufacture from some amount of metal some number of coins. Due to technology looses of metal in average the fact coin weight will be lower, than etalon.
Back to this bars. All saying above is about that this units was very easy in use as an etalon of cost unit - 1 shekel of hacksilber. The sighns on this bar is to autentificate the weight and cost. But it's a normal practice for hacksilber too. Hacksilber collected into bags and sealed with the sighns on bag to authentificate a cost - one mina for example.
So, I think this bars something between hacksilber and coins because this bars have not a one important thing. The coins from very beginning has a nominal markup to their metal value. I think this bars have not a markup. So, in my oppinion they are not coins, but almost coins

 

I would estimate my captures to be worth about your Tahiti vacation every month.

 

Good for you. If I could spend that much on ancient coins I would too, but I have other things that demand my resources: kid, house, new business, and several other hobbies I still enjoy and I'm active in (fountain pens, watches, antiques, etc.)

 

Ditto my friend. Modern Gold, 6 daughters, home, my businesses, other hobbies. This is but one of my hobbies that I enjoy. It is just that I do not only collect Bronzes that I can capture several per month.

 

I think they are coins. I believe there were smaller bars, and for sure I know there were also smaller disk shaped silver coins with the same symbols struck at the same time, which you could argue would serve nicely as pocket change, with the bar coins being the top denomination and the round coins being lesser denominations. I guess the only way to know for sure would be if @Volodya would let us borrow his time machine and we could go back in time to India in 600 BCE.

 

I believe this may be a close round coin you were referring to...


India Matsya AR Vimsatika 650-600 BC stamped bankers marks.
Ex: @Ancientnoob (again)

 

I think he is referring to the the 1/4 Satamana of which I believe @chrsmat71 has one specimen.

 

The Matsya (Kulu) might is a totally different beast, yet while on the subject - my example.

 

When i grow up I want to be just like you.

 

Exactly!
This indian bars remind me this one phokaic weight electrum stater from CNG. Triton XII, Lot: 308.

 

Dude, all of us here seem to be conscientious, hardworking, family-caring people. I am just further down the timeline. What of I know of you as well as @Sallent , I have no doubt that you all will have the ability of making it happen. I take a very Buddhist approach, and just let it happen. LOL, I am caring for my Mother-In-Law now (last two years!), and soon that may just take ALL my Tahiti vacations in the near future.

 

My coin bro @Ancientnoob took the sweetest images of my new bent bar. I am speechless. Thanks man! You are the best.

 

I got that in writing!!!! I'm going to show everyone.

Thanks man glad you like it - its amazing what you can do with a 3 dollar walmart lamp and a 2yr old Samsung.

 

Your collection wont be complete without some YOC LRB coins....