I was bored and thought it would be fun to imagine a Byzantine-style Follis for George Washington. Obv: THEGEOWASHI-NGTONPOTVS. Suited bust facing. (The Honorable George Washington President Of The United States) Rev: Large M. ANNO-IIII Δ. WADC in exergue. Freemason square above, axe left, tree right. The mason square represents Washington's Freemason membership. The axe and tree represent the traditional cherry tree story. The WADC mintmark represents Washington, DC mint.
This is solid enough. Not like coins are colored or anything. If you really wanted you could make your own dies with this design and strike your own fantasy coin. It's something I've considered. Make a bunch and share with friends!
What a neat idea. I feel like this would make a good "challenge coin." I'd imagine there are websites that will strike a die from a submitted image. Hmmm
I was thinking more hammered coins, so that my 'ancient' coin with ME or something on it could be slid alongside LRBs and not stand out. Imagine making enough that they end up in a reference book someday.. Lol!
Good point. I just looked at some challenge coin sites, and they all seem to have that really extra-deep relief, which doesn't really work with coins all that well. I'll keep investigating...
Very cool, @hotwheelsearl. It's fun that there are places that even do this! Like custom t-shirts. ...I used to make up what I'd call 'dangerous t-shirts to wear to a party.' Usually with potentially inflammatory politcal slogans. (...Nope, not going there.)
Here's an actual denarius of Napoleon! It's a tiny medallion (by Jeuffroy) celebrating his coronation as Emperor in 1804. They were given out to the people in front of Notre Dame during the actual coronation ceremony. (The "Den" stands for Vivant Denon, director of the mint.)
Cool idea. You obviously have some free time on your hands to ponder interesting historical parallels. Could have been something out of National Treasure with Nick Cage.
Very cool . I've had similar ideas myself, though I haven't put anything to paper (or metal). The Intaglio mint made an "American Ancients" series done in the style of Ancient Greek coins. Here's their Washington:
@Severus Alexander, I Really, Really Need the Napoleon (...dramatic pause) denarius. I'm speechless, apart from guffaws and comparably monosyllabic words, of distinctly Old English (please read, more generally paleo-Germanic) origin.
I think they show up on Ebay occasionally, so keep a lookout. Frankly it's more quinarius-sized than denarius (13mm?), but... it's cooler to call it denarius.
Thanks for that, @Severus Alexander, but at the price, I'd rather have some of my t-shirts 'printed.' ...Or even, dare I say it, some worn-down Vespasian denarius, like the one I was privileged to find at a coin shop in Grand Central Station the one time I was there, at the age of 11, making it the summer of 1973. ...First and only 1st-c. CE denarius I ever owned. Memorable as such.
This provincial portrait of Domitian always reminds me of the guy with wooden teeth...(ya ..not true - but his dental situation is still weird!).. Snake on the prow of a ship? - the ancient version of: