Help! Not coin.What?

Coincidence indeed. This post is ,unintentionally, my 3000th post. It happened to be the obverse of a possible bronze coin weighing surprisingly 54.6 g. The reverse is too humped , exactly like the shape of a chestnut. here's first the "Obverse" that I could crop on my I Phone and computer. I'll close my eyes now..

 

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wow...54 gms...and it look to me like a Jewish candle holder...idk...

 

Yes, a menorah.

Jochen

 

Side view, other side? Briefly read something the menorah was originally 7 oil lamps, the candelabra was unknown in the middle East before 400CE.

 

Thank you for your assistance. Hope we can reach a final result whatsoever.. Here's the humped other side or "reverse" in coin terms.

 

Looks like a shell. Intriguing, I would have snapped it up in a heartbeat.

 

Could it be a weight?

Or a seal? Hmmm. I wish you could dampen it and see what it says when you stamp it on something.

 

I'm afraid you have maybe nailed Countess !

 

Was this "Stamp" manufactured in Judea or Samaria or else ? In what century?
By naked eye and the magnifier, I could clearly detect scenes or shapes of maybe animals ( duck, turtle ...) on the right and left sides of the "Stamp". I believe I'll need my digital camera for clear results and photos, tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

Did The Cointessa get nailed? That doesn't sound good at all! Poor thing.

I thought I could recognize some written characters - but backwards (which would read right to left if this were pressed into some sealing wax, for instance). It might have been used to seal written communications or it might have been used as a signature evidencing the authenticity of someone or some office? Can you get some sealing wax and test it? Do you think that would harm it?

It might be made of lead. This is interesting... it is called a "hunchback"



And I found this on ebay - a shell that is a weight - made of lead - about 10 grams more than your item. I thought you might like to see it and consider it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ancient-Le...374148?hash=item2f1e185584:g:fTIAAOSw86JaVBgF

Also:
https://menorah-bible.jimdo.com/english/ancient-menorahs/

https://menorah-bible.jimdo.com/english/ancient-menorahs/4th-century/

 

@LaCointessa .. I omitted by mistake the word " it". you nailed it. Didn't you notice that. Forgive anyway.
Now.There are scenes or shapes on the outer sides of the stamp. I'll use my digital camera, as I mentioned above, for this. I might also use wax for the obverse or face of the stamp where the candelabrum or Menorah is . Shall also read deeply your references above. If necessary, a jeweler can tell me if it's bronze or lead.

 

Was rather teasing you a bit and thoroughly enjoying your mystery item. Can not wait to learn what you find out.

 

Of course.

 

Today at day light, I watched the "stamp" meticulously with the magnifier. Surely it's not made of lead. It's yellowish, as you can see in the following photos by digital camera which also include both sides (right and left). Thus the stamp is likely to be made of bronze or brass. I could detect a letter to left of the Menorah which is often
seen on some coins of the first or second Jewish revolts. I'll show you this letter on another coin later after posting these digital images, first. I do appreciate your contribution in this thread

 

yes.... I can see the golden/yellow colored metal showing through.

Do you think you see this letter to the left of the menorah? That is what I thought perhaps I saw there.

Hebrew letter shin or sin or sheen
ש

 

Its just a fantasy item.

 

Oh! Hi @Ken Dorney!! I had another idea about it but I will let my brain relax. But, what does that mean...a fantasy item? Like a piece of abstract art? It has no use at all except as a piece of art? (Not that there is anything wrong with that)...

 

Maybe a better term would be 'fake', as I am certain it was meant to deceive. It is supposed to be a seal, but whoever made it didn't know that it should have been made in the negative, not the positive! Also, seals usually have a small handle or suspension loop (they would not work without them otherwise).

 

Aaaahhhh.... Thank you very much @Ken Dorney

My eyes could not tell me whether the menorah was incused or not. I was wanting to see if it would make an impression in wax or clay or a mark on paper or cloth.

So many tricksters out there.
Maybe the OP will still try it out for us.
Do you think it is very recently made?

 

Well, very interesting even if fake or a curio item. I learned something new from this thread.