i thought this was interesting.... http://www.bmimages.com/resultsframe.asp?image=00031833001 here' s just the pic. .......creepy. lots of neat pics here to look at... http://www.bmimages.com/resultsframe.asp?cat=CM
They say the one in the British Museum is original but there are fakes out there made for you to enjoy wasting your money on. I remain unclear on the "why?".
I wonder if this is some kind of manufacturing flaw. Maybe some left left over material? Looks a bit like the hinde quarter of a horse. Interesting. Interesting enough to fake!
For those who are unclear, the flan is believed to be intentionally made in the shape of a boar's leg, likely for use as a votive offerings. Actually, I'm slightly surprised that we don't see more such para-numismatic items from ancient mints.
I believe it is actually the casting spur for the flan - often times they cast the blank that was then over struck with the coin design. That is a very cool and dramatic example though, particularly because of the crocodile on the reverse coupled with that spur. I have a couple of ancients from Syracuse that still have the casting spur on them: Notice on the next example where the hair of Arethusa flows onto the casting spur: Most often the casting spurs were broken off of the flans either before or after the coin was struck. But occasionally some guy had a bit ta much aqua vitae the night before and got the lazies the next day and didn't break off the casting spur.
I agree those Syracuse are simply casting flans. People forget that while European ancients were struck, many times the flan was cast beforehand. However, I would believe the first coin was intentional. I cannot see how a casting sprue looks that perfect.
