Fun fact I'll bet you didn't know - coins were invented in EGYPT in 650 BC!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by lordmarcovan, Jun 30, 2017.

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  1. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Or so says eBay, in a page I asked them to correct more than a year ago.

    It's just a hunch, but I believe this article might just have been authored by an orangutan. The "Egypt" thing isn't the only howler in there by any means:

    "Collect a Little Piece of Economic History​

    People have been using coins for currency for thousands of years. The first coins date back to ancient Egypt in 650 B.C., so it’s no wonder old coins draw so much interest. Coins are among the most popular collectors' items on eBay and in the collecting world overall. Both amateur and experienced collectors are sure to find a fascinating array of coins, from Buffalo nickels to Silver Eagle coins to Peace Dollars, on eBay.

    Shop for Bullion Coins

    Because they are expensive to produce and popular among coin collecting connoisseurs, bullion coins usually come at a premium price. On eBay, you can find platinum bullion, gold bullion coins and bullion coins made from silver and other precious metals.

    Hunt Down Rare Coins

    eBay makes it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for, so you won’t have to check multiple coin shops for those hard-to-get pieces. The rarer the coin, the higher the value. Famous rare coins can sell for millions of dollars. Some of those in top demand include:
    ​
    • The Morgan Silver Dollar, which has a high liquidation rate.
    • Franklin Half Dollars, which are rare and high quality. Only 445 million Franklins were produced between 1950 and 1963, and they were the only ones ever made.
    • The $20 Gold Double Eagle, made from 96 percent troy ounce gold. The value of the $20 Gold Double Eagle varies with the price of gold.
    • Mercury dimes, made between 1936 and 1942, are among the most beautiful U.S. coins. These collectible coins are exceptionally rare and difficult to obtain.
    • Indian Head Gold Coins MS 62 Condition are popular among coin collectors, particularly the $2.50, $5 and $10 versions.
    Discover a Unique Error Coin

    Error coins are coins with mint mistakes—but those mistakes only increase their value among collectors.Because they are so scarce, error coins are highly sought after. Collectors can find a unique selection of error coins on eBay.

    Build Your Exonumia Collection

    Exonumia coins are coins that were never issued by a government for currency. These include commemorative coins, challenge coins, thematic coins, reproduction coins, proof coins, casino chips, bimetallic coins, metals, and tokens. As they slip into collections, old coins are becoming scarcer, making them a hotter commodity than ever among collectors. Whether you’re a new collector with an interest in Canadian and U.S. coins or an experienced expert looking for a specific silver coin, let eBay be your source for finding the perfect addition to your collection."    ​
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2017
    lordmarcovan, Jun 30, 2017
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  3. Santinidollar

    Santinidollar Supporter! Supporter

    As many coins as are sold in eBay, you'd think they'd have ONE person with some numismatic knowledge.

    Oh well, they'd probably want to be paid and get health insurance. Can't have that, can we?
     
    Santinidollar, Jun 30, 2017
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  4. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Orangutans don't ask for health insurance and will work for peanuts. Literally.
     
    lordmarcovan, Jun 30, 2017
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  5. Evan8

    Evan8 A Little Off Center

    Easy now. Sometimes i think orangutans are smarter than some humans. If you want to insult the writer just call him... a moron lol.
     
    Evan8, Jun 30, 2017
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  6. gregarious

    gregarious E Pluribus Unum

    haha! orangutans everywhere are up in arms over this insult!
     
    gregarious, Jun 30, 2017
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  7. gregarious

    gregarious E Pluribus Unum

    ..everyone knows Lydians were Egyptians...
     
    gregarious, Jun 30, 2017
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  8. Aethelred

    Aethelred The Old Dead King

    I have to ask everyone on this board to cease and desist. Orangutans have a rich and diverse culture based on family and community, they take great pride in their history and traditions. Further comparison between humans and the orangutan community will result in legal action by the latter. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
     
    Aethelred, Jun 30, 2017
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  9. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    Oh man :mad:
    So you are telling me that this coin I have was not printed in Egypt? :bigtears:
    egypt.JPG
    :shifty:... :grumpy:... :sour:... :sorry:​
     
    paddyman98, Jun 30, 2017
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  10. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    Agreed. Furthermore, that article was written by an esteemed colleague of mine...

    orang.jpg
     
    John Anthony, Jun 30, 2017
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  11. Volante

    Volante Well-Known Member

    Haha wow, I assumed this was a eBay user-created guide before I clicked the link - looks like they just put together a list of SEO keywords and outsourced the writing.
     
    Volante, Jun 30, 2017
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  12. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    True. I met an orangutan once. He was nice.

    I would prefer his company over that of hundreds if not thousands of humans I've met.
     
    lordmarcovan, Jun 30, 2017
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  13. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    It's not as bad as the fallacy that this was the first coin ever.


    Lydian_trite_15_o.jpg

    It is, if you ignore the evidence showing coins started to be minted in India around the same exact time, and also if you ignore archeological evidence showing the Chinese were minting Tong Bei money (bronze cowry shells used as coins) 300 years before the west "invented coins"

    What's next? Europeans invented the printing press? Might want to fact check that one too.

    Lesson: Don't get your coin facts from dealers with a financial stake in selling a coin by hyping facts and embellishing history. That's how we got the "widow's mite", if you ignore the half dozen other candidates that could have been the true widow's mite, or the "tribute penny", which is only one of a dozen or so coins that could have been the candidate for the coin Jesus held up.

    There are a lot of "facts" circulating in our hobby with little, if any, evidence to back them up.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2017
    Sallent, Jun 30, 2017
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  14. Evan8

    Evan8 A Little Off Center

    I read a story about one in a zoo. He kept escaping his enclosure just to walk around and look at the other animals. I always liked orangutans.
     
    Evan8, Jun 30, 2017
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  15. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Jun 30, 2017
    Paddy54, Jun 30, 2017
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  16. Ancientnoob

    Ancientnoob Money Changer

    First "coin" I am in this camp. Gandhara BC 650.

    GandharabentbarBC650.jpg
     
    Ancientnoob, Jun 30, 2017
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  17. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    Gandhara, Taxili AR Satamana.jpg

    We win, until someone here pulls out their Tong Bei coin.
     
    Sallent, Jun 30, 2017
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  18. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I'd write a correction for this, but I just got my dessert, and I don't want the ice cream to be liquidated.
     
    -jeffB, Jun 30, 2017
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  19. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    BONSAI !!! ...(yeah, I know, that is Japanese...)

    OLDEST: Tong Bei:
    China Zhou -Chou- 1000-200 BCE Dynasty Bronze cowrie - VF - Rare.jpg
    China Zhou -Chou- 1000-200 BCE Dynasty Bronze cowrie - VF - Rare
    (I also have Jade, Bone, Clay, Ivory, etc. versions of Ancient Cowrie.)


    2ND OLDEST: Gandahara:
    upload_2017-6-30_19-23-56.png
    India Gandahara AR Bent Bar 11-3g RARE - 2 Dots on one side-VERY Rare on BOTH sides.jpg
    India Gandahara AR Bent Bar 11-3g 650-600 BCE RARE two dots - also have on BOTH sides VERY RARE
     
    Alegandron, Jun 30, 2017
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  20. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    No way Egypt was the first place coins were invented. Most taxation was done in kind, about the only things cast in metal were slugs that were not coins. Not until the influence of the Greeks were coins actually minted. Offerings were always depicted in kind on the tomb walls. Gold was considered valuable, but it was not a medium of exchange.
     
    ancient coin hunter, Jun 30, 2017
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  21. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Scarabs were made in Egypt... WELL before coins...

    I collect Royal Scarabs (Pharaohs) as, even though they are not coins, they are great placemarkers in History

    Egypt SCARAB Thuthmosis III ca 1504-1450 BCE ex CNG ex Hendin.JPG
    Egypt SCARAB Thuthmosis III ca 1504-1450 BCE ex CNG ex Hendin

    Egypt SCARAB Middle Kingdom 2065-1650 BCE Scarabaeus Sphinx.jpg
    Egypt SCARAB Middle Kingdom 2065-1650 BCE Scarabaeus Sphinx

    Egypt SCARAB Seti I ca 1291-1278 BCE 19th Dynasty ex Zuzim.JPG
    Egypt SCARAB Seti I ca 1291-1278 BCE 19th Dynasty ex Zuzim

    upload_2017-6-30_19-45-43.png
    Egypt Scarab Pamai Pamay 830 - 773 BC 8th Pharaoh of the 22nd Dynasty 960 - 766 BC High Priest of Ma'at.

    upload_2017-6-30_19-46-21.png
    Egypt Amenhotep III stone scarab IN-HAND rev.JPG
    Egypt Amenhotep III Scarab 1390-1352 BCE cartouch Neb Maat Ra 43.37g 45mm ex Gustave Mustake
     
    Alegandron, Jun 30, 2017
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