Show me and the forum your oldest coin with a date and without a date. If your coin has an Islamic date on it explain the dates location and year it was made. All world calendar systems are welcome. Those without dates, a date range would be appreciated. I can't wait to see what you have!!
Oldest Without a Date that I can confidently ID: Apulia, Arpi Circa 275-250 BC AE 21mm Obverse: ΠOYΛΛI beneath bull charging right Reverse: Horse galloping right Oldest coin with a date: 1695 Great Britain Crown, William III Obverse: Laureate and draped bust of King William III right, GVLIELMVS · III · DEI · GRA · (William III By the Grace of God) Reverse: Crowned cruciform shields around central Nassau lion, divided date above, legend around. MAG BR·FRA· ET·HIB· REX·16 96· (King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland)
My Oldest Western Coin (now) Iona Kolophon AR Tetartemorion 530-520 BCE Archaic Apollo Incuse Punch 0.15g 4.5mm- SNG Kayhan 343 Ex: @John Anthony Oldest Scarab: Egypt SCARAB Middle Kingdom 2065-1650 BCE Scarabaeus Sphinx These were used as good luck and worn as necklaces. Many were talismans to protect from evil. They were worn in everyday life. Oldest Seal: Akkadian 2350-2200 BCE Cylinder Seal Buff stone scene hero wresting antelope winged lion Ex J Tabot with SCENE Oldest Relic Material: These are figurines carved from Russian Mammoth Tusks imported into and carved in China into Chinese Zodiac Figurines: I am Year of the Boar, my Wife is Year of the Rabbit... At the time, it was perfectly legal to own and transport Mammoth Tusk, as it was NOT an endangered species, rather it was Extinct. However, I understand NOW you cannot purchase nor transport them into the US. These are grandfathered. I purchased these on one of my trips to China. Mammoth Tusk - Russia find China carved Chinese Zodiac BOAR and RABBIT. Estimated age of Mammoth Tusks: 55,000-60,000 BCE. INDIA ' India Gandhara janaprada AR Bent Bar 11.3g 650-600 BCE RARE two dots - also have on BOTH sides is VERY RARE CHINA FISH MONEY China Zhou Dynasty 1046-256 BCE AE Fish Money 67mm 9.5g AB Coole Enc Chinese Coins 6920ff EX: @Ken Dorney
Oldest without a date: I'm not completely sure, but I think that this Roman Republic Clodius Turrinus qualifies as my oldest coin (maybe around 40 B.C.)? I posted it in the ancients forum a while ago. Oldest with a date: this Edward VI Shilling has a Roman Numerals date on it reading "MDXLIX" or 1549. The date appears on the reverse from about 9:00 to 12:00.
Here are some of the oldest ones I have now. 400-344 BC Greek AR hemidrachm - ex BCD collection, a Chinese "ant nose" money from the Warring States Period, about 475-221 BC. And the oldest dated coin, other than Arabic and Indian coins, is this 1519 Hungarian denar.
These are some amazing posts! I've never seen half of them till now. The Chinese "Ant Nose" and "Fish" pieces are really interesting. The Edward VI schilling is on my want list. Trying to find the first dated coins from a few countries. I don't have any pics of my ancients but my oldest dated coin is dated 1204 ES. While Spain was trying to drive out the Muslim community from the country, Alfonso VIII celebrated his accomplishment in this regard by minting an Obol from the town of Toledo. At the time Spain was still using a calendar system introduced by Augustus Caesar 38 B.C. The A.D. date would actually be 1166 A.D.
My oldest coin the good old Owl: Athens Classical Owl Tetradrachm Silver, 23 mm, 17.18 gm, struck around BC 430
1718 2 Reale. Found metal detecting in a lot in downtown Fernandina Beach Florida. Site had once had a restaurant, recently razed and before that a house. Across the street from the harbor. Spent 6 days cleaning out the lot. Harvested horseshoes, both Union and Confederate Minie balls, a pistol, several Indian Heads (oldest 1864} plus wheat pennies. Barber quarters 1898-1902, Barber dimes 1895-1900, 1865 Seated dime, 1853 and 1860 Half dimes. A week later I drove by and saw a 50 foot section of sidewalk had been torn up. Recovered another Minie ball and the Reale. Great site.
Those are some nice finds. Our Moderator Lord M will enjoy them as well. How fortunate that the hole in the Reale did not pierce the date.
I guess the oldest would have to be my Lesbos Mytilene El Hecte (sixth of a stater) circa 521-478 BC but my two favourites are the Attica Tet. 440-404BC with almost full crested helmet and earrings: And of course my highest graded Phonecian Byblus Azbaal Shekel 400-340BC. I have not seen a higher grade in recent auctions: Oldest dated would most likely be my Saladin 1184 (crusade times) dinar struck in Cairo: