Hi, I'm new to the site, sorry if I post in the wrong section or wrong forum but I've asked about this coin I found everywhere and no one seems to know where its from. Three years ago I found a coin while walking home, it was on the side of the road between some metal parts. It caught my eye and I picked it up and saw the words weren't in English, except for Association Universelle, I thought it meant Universal Association, lol, I have no clue. From the design I thought it was cool so I kept it. I never thought it was important or worth anything. I picked it up yesterday and decided to ask if anyone knew what it is, sadly no one seems to know where its from or what language is written on it. I searched for a great forum where there might be someone who can help and I was lead to this site. I keep it because its cool but it would be awesome to know what is it exactly, lol... Thanks a lot and enjoy your day. Sorry again if I'm posting on the wrong forum. I've attached images from photobucket that I took of both sides of the coin. Also the words are: "Canimus Sub Tegmine Palme" "Aperire Terram Gentibus" "Association Universelle" "Revue Exotique Hiustree" "Concours Mensuels" http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x303/powermonster/20110923_001.jpg http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x303/powermonster/20110923_002.jpg
I'm at work so I'm not going to google anymore about this medal. I think the word is illustree not hiustree. and it's french. basically "Revue Exotique illustree" "Concours Mensuels". Translates to Exotic illustrated revue, monthly contest. I'm sure its not pornographic, but I can only imagine what google will come up with.
One more thing. There's a banner on the medal it looks like it says FIAT LUX. Well I found this and, coincidently its a French website. www.fiatlux.org UPDATE: this website is about fireworks and is completely unrelated. It looks like Google books has a sample from one of the publications. But its pretty big and its all French. I flipped through for a few seconds to see if they had anything illustrated which looks like the medal in question, but didnt find anything.
A plaque at the Suez Canal reads : aperire terram gentibus - To open the world to all people. Hrmm...
I think this is a contest medal. I think (quick googling) that Revue exotique illustrée was a publishing house or publisher in Paris. The words mensuels concours translate to monthly contest. Aperire terram Gentibus is Open Earth Nations (I think meaning open borders of countries/free transit), and I think canibus sub tegmine palmae translates A/The Dog brings up Glory ( or Victory) (not sure what that means). So, I think this probably dates from the late 1800's, is a contest medallion of some sort (prize) and was issued by the Revue Exotique Illustree. fiat lux tranlates to "let there be light"
