Hi there, I found my first ancient coin (if it is in fact ancient). I have no clue where to start to identify this, so I was hoping for a little help! It's fairly small and has strange markings (big help, lol), I'll post some pictures.
Don't think it's indian. But would need more in focus pics to be certain. Would rather think Central Asia early islamic.
Best I can do. And I have no clue how it should be oriented. Any ideas? Thanks everyone for your input.
hmmmm ...i'd put my money on idian. keep in mind i don't have much money. it's a neat coin whatever it is.
Welcome, Jacques!! Hey friend, is there any chance that you could give the pros a bit more info? (the diameter and/or the weight is always a definite plus) ... again, welcome!!
Hi Steve, Diameter = 1.5cm. I do not have a scale yet so I am unsure of the weight. It is about 1mm thick (at most, it is thinner on the opposite side), and not magnetic. The edge is not smooth all the way around, there seem to be ridges (as if it split from being under stress). Hope that helps even a little bit!
Contrary to the opinion given by others this coin is not Indian, and is definitely Islamic. If you take your second photo of the new snapshots and turn it 90 degrees cointerclockwise the upper line is the first line of the Kalima "There's no God but God.." in Kufic (Medieval Arabic script). For now i stick with Central Asian early islamic. It's likely not Ilkhanid, might be Mongol descendants (Golden Horde) or Mamluk.
OK, now at home with some references. I was right about the Mamluks, it just a bit more Western than i thought. It's a dirham of the Egypt Burji Mamluks, in name of al-Ashraf Abu'l-Nasr Aynal, AH 857 - 865, 1453 - 1461 A.D. Similar one on zeno here: http://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=95507
Gordianus III. I no longer have the coin. I bought it from Littleton in 1973. I returned it. Now I know that it was OK for what it was, but it did not meet my expectations. This is the first ancient that did: c. 550-500 BCE Miletos 1/6 stater.1.013 grams Sear GCV 3532v SNG Von Aulock 2080v
Ummm, "Hi kaparthy" ... yah, we definitely got off on the wrong foot, but I think that you probably meant your post to be posted in the very similarly named thread: => Your Very First Ancient... Oh, but that's a very cool first ancient coin (good taste, brother) ..
Well, nothing personal, but, hey, nothing personal. I just took a hit in a political discussion board from some Heather who asked me if I am an Aspberger. I did not address that there, but the response could have been: "You mean, do I spend my evenings looking at small objects through a magnifier to discern small differences among them?" With coin people, I have a thick skin. (With political people, not so much...) If we were not friends before, let us be so now.
