Hello, I had this website recommended by a friend. I am looking forward to interacting with like-minded individuals. Especially those for whom sleep is difficult when an unidentified coin awaits! I have come across some coins that are well outside of my wisdom and experience. Ancient... it seems so. My novice guess of origin is the area of Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Western India...? I would delighted to gratefully accept any and all wisdom regarding these two coins. My thanks! ---David
I do like to metal detect. These are not from my outings however... They do look fresh out of the ground though don't they?
The coin on the right is an early Post-Reform fals from the Umayyad Caliphate, quite early in the Muslim series c. 690- 750 AD. Unfortunately, your coin is an anonymous type featuring only a standardized religious legend, with no date, ruler, or mint given. Sometimes these can be more specifically ID'd based on minor style differences, but I'm not skilled enough for that. (It's probably not Indian subcontinent, more likely somewhere in the Middle East, but again, I can't narrow it much more than that.) In the top photo the coin is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise and shows the coin's reverse, middle photo shows correct orientation of the obverse. The left coin is likely somewhere in the Indian subcontinent, c. 15th-19th century. Top photo is rotated 90 degrees clockwise. Other than that, I can't tell, because these coins were usually struck with dies much bigger than the flans, so much of the legend is off the coin. A few people have the skill to attribute these, unfortunately I am not one of those people. Anyway, hope my other answer was helpful.
Thank you! That info helps to eliminate possibilities. Oddly, both coins show that ninety degree rotation. I took the second photo first, and then flipped them both horizontally.
So... perhaps I misjudged and should have asked in the World Coins forums? When do you consider a coin "Ancient?"
Technically, an ancient coin dates from before 500 AD, but in this forum the middle ages until 1500 are treated, too. Both of your coins have been manufactured in a medieval way, and the Arabic coin on the right is from the 690-750 AD period. The Indian coin on the left is probably many centuries younger, but I'm not a specialist either. As for Arabic script, it should be aligned as the grass and the flowers grow: pointing upward, the horizontal lines at the bottom.
I've always liked the "grass and the flowers grow" imagery. That is how I positioned the first photo I took. (Which is the second photo above.) I then flipped both coins horizontally and discovered that both reverses are rotated ninety degrees. While that bothered my sense of order, , I left them that way for accuracy.
Thank you to all who responded! I certainly have a better idea than when I started. If anyone can zero me in closer, I'd be a grateful and interested student! Best to all!
Welcome, Oxford Punter ... I'm sure that somebody will stumble across this thread and your cool coins soon enough (it's always awesome to have new coin-folks) Cheers
Glad to have you with us @Oxford Punter !!! That type is way out of my comfort zone too LOL But several others are heavily into this area and i hope they see your thread to help out.
Your Indian copper could be a Falus of the Golkonda sultanate. These have this general design and weight. But though i am into India, it is to new for my collecting scope, so not an expert on these.
I've got quite a few of those types and I agree, they are a trial to identify. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
You've come to the right place! There are many very distinguished and knowledgeable members of this forum. I'm not one of them! LOL!
Why, thank you for the many greetings! It is refreshing in this day and age. I like it! A Falus of the Golkonda sultanate, eh? I've just perused quite a few photos of Golkonda coins and I can definitely see the similarities. I've had more than a few "Oh, there it is!" moments, immediately followed by "Awww, not quite." Like stepping into a whole new world of coins. Nice to know I can still get that "Ooooh, what's this?" feeling!
