Looks like it, for a bank possibly. I found this so far: http://en.wikipediaThe Richest Man in Babylon (book) 1926 .org/wiki/The_Richest_Man_in_Babylon_(book) "The Richest Man in Babylon is a book by George Samuel Clason which dispenses financial advice through a collection of parables set in ancient Babylon. Through their experiences in business and managing household finance, the characters in the parables learn simple lessons in financial wisdom. Originally, a series of separate informational pamphlets distributed by banks and insurance companies, the pamphlets were bound together and published in book form in 1926" "A part of all you earn is yours to keep Arkad relates that he did as advised, saving a tenth of his income for a year, then investing that money with a brickmaker who went on a journey to buy jewels to trade. He related this to Algamish, who castigated Arkad for this foolishness. "Every fool must learn," he said, "But why trust the knowledge of a brickmaker about jewels? Would you go to the breadmaker to inquire about the stars?" Algamish then said, "He who takes advice about his savings from one who is inexperienced in such matters, will pay with his savings for proving the falsity of their opinions." Arkad then saved his money for another year, spending it on fine clothing and regularly scheduled feasts. Algamish comments that Arkad is "eating the children of his savings" by not investing them. Arkad then again saves and wisely invests his money for two years and when Algamish learns of how Arkad has taken his lessons to heart, he hires Arkad as a manager of his estate in Nippur. By continuing to save and invest wisely, Arkad relates that he became the wealthy man that he is now."
Its silver, but idk if you could call it a fake since it's in English. So maybe a fantasy/bullion round?
I'd be interested if anyone comes up with more on this one. What really strikes me as unusual is that the coin is marked 'Sterling'. Advertising tokens are usually pot metal. I'm trying to come up with a scenario where someone would produce this item and the only idea I get is that you might have been given one of these (worth about 50 cents at the time the book came out - but that was a lot of money then) when you signed up for an investment seminar run by the author. I recall as a boy when my mother received an ad with a whole paper dollar in an ad stating that this was the start of the big savings she might enjoy by doing business with that company. Neither of us could ever again throw out an ad without opening it and looking for the dollar. The item reminds me of my pot metal token below which was supposedly given out in 1898 to participants in a bicycle race by the manufacturer of the sponsoring bicycle. Both items show an interest in classical culture and coinage that is not very widespread today. I doubt any merchant in Syracuse NY would think of copying a Syracuse, Sicily, dekadrachm for advertising today but in 1898 I suspect a huge majority of the residents of that city knew where their city's name came from. These now sell on eBay as fakes without mention of the company name and date that appear on the item. Stearns Bicycle token, 1898 Who knows other copies of classical coins used in a way similar to these two?
This may explain the X on the reverse: Arkad tells the king that there are seven cures to a lean purse. The first is also the most important: “Start thy purse to fattening.” How is this done? Arkad explains: “For every ten coins that you place within your purse, take out only for use but nine. Then after that your purse will start to fatten at once and its increasing weight will feel good in your hands and bring satisfaction to the soul.”
At first glance, I thought "Greek!"...then I realized I could read the writing at the edges and was thinking "waitaminute"... Cool coin either way! Has it determined to be silver?
