Having a good week! Ionia EL Hemihekte ND struck circa 625-600BC 8.5mm. 1.35g. uncertain mint Raised swastika Incuse square punch Rosen 269 EX: Matthew Curtis Collection
Sorry John, I can't warm-up to a coin like this , but I can appreciate its historical importance. Knowing how extensive your gold coin collection is, it found a good home . Gold coinage doesn't get much earlier than this does it ?
Yeah, they may not have much in the way of design, but you've still got to appreciate the significance of these coins. I say that's worth a few extra points in its favor at least. After all, you are going back more than 2,600 years to the dawn of coinage here. I guess we'll agree to disagree, but I find the coin beautiful for it's simplicity and historical value. I'd rather own one of those than any medieval gold coin any day.
Could care less what the design is, I look at the history of it and that’s a very old winner. Great addition.
Wow, that is a spectacular example! Mine has a bit more wear but it is a full hekte (2.53g): I do have this fourrée version of the hemihekte: Along with the first coins came the first counterfeits... of course!!
I don't know about the Big-Bang, but certainly the first big bang-out!! I like the early electrum pieces too.
I am a very diverse collector, I have stuff even from 21st Century. But, today most coins are for my taste are "ugly". some Countries like the UK/ Russia still make nice material. I really love the coinage from 1500-1750. Here is a beautifull "medieval" coin, hopefully Sallent will change his mind...
John, That Ecu d' Or is a jewel ! French & English Gothic gold coins are some of the most beautiful coins ever made. There is nothing dark aesthetically about coins minted during the "Dark Ages". I've got one Ecu d' Or in my collection pictured below.
I love those french medieval coins. Here's my Charles VII ecu d'or Charles VII (1422-1461) - Ecu d'or 3° emission de 1424, atelier de Toulouse (annelet sous la cinquieme lettre) Croisette sur etoile initiale, KAROLVS : DEI : GRATIA : FRANCORVM : REX, Ecu de France couronné + XPC : VINCIT : XPC : REGNAT : XPC : IMPERAT, croix arquée, evidée et fleudelisée, cantonnée de quatre coronelles 3.76 gr, 28 mm Ref : Ciani # 617 Q
Q, This is a great example of a later issue when they started to reduce the weight of these coins . I think the earlier issues were around 4.00 gm.