Largest ever ancient coin?

There where some stories that when the Arras hoard was discovered, that the idiot workers (who found the coins) had melted down some massive 100 Aurei coins. This was debunked later. They did find some 10 Aurei pieces! But the winner has to be Bactria and their AV 20 Stater (169.2g.) Next would be some Roman 10 Aurei/ then the AV 16 Drachm (Double Octodrachm) Ptolomiac Egypt 54g.)

Here is the Paris museum specimen
AV 20 Stater ND 169.2g. 58mm.
Eucratides I 171-45BC
Bactria

 

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WOW...what a fantastic coin.

 

Can I have one for Christmas ???

 

The provenance story of this coin is chapter 3 of Frank Holt's Lost World of the Golden King: In Search of Ancient Afghanistan. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0520273427 Recommended! Review at http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2013/2013-07-06.html

 

Your too late, I was first on Santa's list

 

I wish I could get a sense of scale. From the photo it might as well be 18 mm. But 58 mm? What is that like--a frisbee? Wow.

 

I don't know, the reverse is pretty beat up.

I think I will wait for a better one.

Besides, if I had one I would be compelled to carry it with me 24x7 and it would get heavy.

John

 

wow...grade A large AND gold...

 

For some reason I am reminded of the film The Man Who Would Be King

Great piece!

 

Not really, I have the 1969 Uganda Proof set/ the 1000 shillings coin weighs 140 g/ 58mm. Its the poor man's version of a 40 Dukaten gold coin. Still a beautifull piece of art.

 

World largest ancient coins:



To the shopping mall :

 

Wow, that is a HEAVILY circulated example, with the obverse almost completely worn off! Imagine that one in someone’s pocket, or sliding across the counter while buying some bubblegum!

 

WOW what is the point of a coin that big? How do you carry those around back then? LOL

 

I would say that was destined for the Kings personal collection
All throughout history the massive 100/ 50 Dukaten coins where all struck for "presentation" in other words for safe keeping. Beautifull coins should never be handled but admired in collections. The Mughal Emperor Jahangir struck massive 1000/ 500 AV Mohurs which weighed 35/ 17.5 pounds. Again for presentation. These are know in some Saudi Princes collection. My biggest coin is that Uganda 140 g. piece/ nice weight to it.
John

 

Also from India, the king Amyntas minted 20-drachm coins, slightly wider but markedly less dramatic than Eucratides' gold:

http://coinindia.com/galleries-amyntas.html

Closest modern equivalent I can think of offhand is the Panama 20 Balboa coin.

 

600 bc? what evidence is there those stones were used as money then?

 

If I became a millionaire and this coin became available, I would buy it:

 

This one with Diocletian on it was sold for around 2,3 million USD last year:

 

I am afraid that coin would fetch 50M if it ever became avaliable. Million dollar coins are common these days with inflation. Mine would be that Spanish AV 50 Enriques from Enrique IV Castille & Leon 1454. Its 90mm. 175g.