I thought it would be fun to select 3 coins from my collection and ask my fellow members, what do they have in common? How are they different? Do these 3 coins have any major significance or are they 3 obscure coins that looked cool together?
If that bottom one is Axum, then the countries they represent all play a role in the early history of Islam. The Roman (Byzantine) Empire and the Sassanian Persian Empire were the two major foes for the Muslim forces during their early conquests. The Christian Kingdom of Axum accepted Muslims fleeing persecution in Arabia and provided a safe haven for them.
Would it be that these 3 coins were issued by rulers who all received a personal message from one contemporary historically important person ?
The coin of sasanian. i think is hormizd V http://www.livius.org/sao-sd/sassanids/sassanid_kings.html http://www.ma-shops.com/fuerth/item.php5?id=9576&lang=en&curr=EUR
that they are awesome? I'd have to do some "google" work to tie these together (or to create my own link). that axum coin is one my fav's of your AN..it fantastic. I think you said it was the first bimetallic coin. since I'm attracted to weird coins, a bimetallic coin with a strange design from a people that I hadn't even heard of before I collected coins..puts it on top.
I would go with that. I think the top two were involved in the "true cross" story, while the bottom one is where the Ark was supposedly stored. While Axum was the first Christian nation, modern day Ethiopia had one of the oldest branches of Judaism on earth. Btw a "true cross" display could be interesting. A coin of Tiberius, (maybe a tribute penny), Pontius Pilate, Constantine, Helena, Khusro II, and Heraclius.
Well I wanted to see if all the possibilities would come out. The one I was looking for was alluded to by THCoins. Now all of these coins Were made at about the same time, all three rulers were heads of state during the lifetime of the prophet Muhammad. More importantly each of these three received a letter from Muhammad offering them to embrace Islam or face eventual destruction. The answers and or responses to these letters are quite interesting. Making it colorful... Heraculis Emperor of the Romans: I know you guys like Jesus but I believe you but you cant just unbecome Christian its a little more complicated than that. Khusro II: Says nothing and hires 2 big guys from Yemen to apprehend Muhammad and bring him back to the court. Just like that. Ashama: Sounds like a plan, wow a new authentic prophet. Y'all can hide out here.
