Featured Mayan? Incan? Nocan?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Chip Kirkpatrick, Aug 1, 2020.

  1. Chip Kirkpatrick

    Chip Kirkpatrick Well-Known Member

    I was metal detecting a couple of days ago and found a 1919 wheat penny, 1949 Washington quarter and a 1962 dime, all in pretty good shape. Added a flattened bowl from a large sterling spoon and it was a pretty good day.
    Then I got a strong signal but could not find the target in the hole. I would remove a handful of dirt and it looked like the target moved within the hole. After chasing it back and forth I was getting frustrated and about to move on. I pulled the plug of grass and weeds over a bit and something banged my knuckles. I looked more closely and a big ring was caught up in the roots. Nice.

    at home I cleaned it up a bit. My wife examined it and claimed to see a K stamp inside the band. Maybe it was gold. An acid test was inconclusive but heavily hinted it was indeed.

    But the object mounted on it was mysterious. I was reminded of a Mayan calendar. I snapped some pictures then took it to my jeweler to be cleaned and possibly sized. Then I posted some pics and sent a few to friends who are knowledgeable for their opinions.

    about 10pm I got a frantic call from a buddy who was curator and director of a maritime museum. He is extremely knowledgable about local history and both Spanish and pirate treasure.

    he was excited over this ring. He sent the pics to another friend who is an archeologist specializing in local Spanish endeavors. This man begged I not do anything to alter the ring until he examines it. He believes it’s at least 200 years old and possibly a signet ring or was made for a conquistador. He thinks it’s a coin mounted

    my problem is I can’t find anything about Mayans or Incans using coins. Chocolate was their favorite currency.

    However look at the prongs mounting that “coin”. There’s 8 and they look strong as if somebody wanted to make sure that thing wasn’t lost. Can anybody comment on this? CA0A9DB9-2C8E-4434-92CF-3114FF8225FA.jpeg D28B46AD-AE75-4F1F-9DC8-302DD663EEB9.jpeg B5EB2EA7-7D46-4F7C-B330-8A4A0579DA19.jpeg 5C58C859-D90E-4EAB-ABC8-3DA7BAD4444B.jpeg E4721D7A-F1D1-4B0B-B7F8-D8A48135A2C7.jpeg 0148C1E6-0F00-46ED-8267-8CC127336EFB.jpeg 297535A8-6CA9-4357-B8E6-7AC204438DE0.jpeg 9631D4AE-5782-4B7F-BF66-3E03E3148148.jpeg
     
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  3. J.T. Parker

    J.T. Parker Well-Known Member

    hello Chip,
    Looks like the Aztec calendar reproduction ring.
    Good going,
    J.t.
     
    7Calbrey likes this.
  4. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    IMG_1799.JPG IMG_1801.JPG IMG_1959.JPG IMG_1962.JPG IMG_1960.JPG IMG_1961.JPG

    Great finds, especially on the ring, damn lucky of you! :D So the coin part of the ring is it silver and what is the pic that shows the 25? The coin on the ring looks like what's called a Mayan calendar, some people call it an Aztec calendar as well. In the middle of the calendar is a little face of a man sticking out his tongue, not sure what that's about! :cigar: My silver coin shows it, my bad on the edit, screwed up my verbiage! What is on the inside part of the ring or the other side of that coin? Here's my little gold Token from Mexico, there are tons of coins that show the Aztec calendar. btw, What State are you in?
     
    Marsyas Mike, Egry and 7Calbrey like this.
  5. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    What is the item with 25 on it? Is it a date nail? Railroads used them to indicate the year a tie was put down. Where did you find these things? Not a specific location but general.
     
  6. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

  7. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

  8. Mike Margolis

    Mike Margolis Well-Known Member

    Yes the Aztec calendar stone image is on the token set in the ring. It is a 260 day sacred calendar called the Tzolkin that is also the sacred calendar used by the Mayan with 20 day symbols and thirteen numbers giving you a 260 day wheel roughly a period of human gestation. i once had a silver pendant of the Aztec sunstone that I lost in the wood of the Sierra Nevada foothills, thought maybe he had found it! oh well...some other detectorist will get it eventually.
     
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  9. Alegandron

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

    Thank you. Several trips to southern Mexico for business. I have gotten a few 20” replicas as wall plaques for my daughters. They were quite heavy, but were fun to muse over.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  10. Mike Margolis

    Mike Margolis Well-Known Member

    Your welcome Brian. a great book on this calendar is by Tony Shearer: "Beneath the Moon and Under the Sun"- cheap as a used paperback.[​IMG][​IMG]
    He also did a series of vidos now on youtube:https://www.youtube.com/user/TonyShearerMythMaker
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2020
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  11. Alegandron

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

    I think I have read that some time ago! Most of what you had stated was familiar.
     
  12. Matthew Kruse

    Matthew Kruse Young Numismatist

    Definitely reminds me of the Aztec calendar as others have mentioned.
     
  13. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Super great find but I doubt it's very old. The "k" on the ring makes it after 1906, I think that's when makers starting using 14k etc.! good luck!! :D
     
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