I've done a bit of research into this coin and apparently they made it in four metals and it is referred to as a "pattern" coin. Can anyone tell me what that means and help with the identification of the metal used in this one...it's not silver and I'm pretty darn sure it's not gold. Any input on grade or value would be appreciated as well. Thanks!
The coin is a fantasy Arabian 1 Dinar coin. The date is AH 1352 (AD 1933). Made at the Vienna Mint in 1965 by somebody named Bernard O'Hea, whoever he is. They were made in a variety of metals including silver. Not much is known about these "coins" but they do turn up from time to time. I have one also, acquired in the 1960's from a California coin dealer's "junk box". 23mm, 3.95gm, metal appears to be aluminum-bronze or brass.
There was a thread about the same coin a few months ago. I posted a set of the smaller size base metal pieces in there as well https://www.cointalk.com/threads/middle-eastern-coin-id-help.311617/ Yours looks UNC, but with what appears to be a fingerprint on one side. Worth around $20 individually. Composition is aluminum-bronze.
Does anyone know how did Numista come up with the AD year 1965 for the AH year 1352? "** Exonumia ** - Fantasy issues - Tarim" https://en.numista.com/catalogue/exonumia-206.html#devise6037
the 1965 designation is not a translation of the date on the coin. That is the year they were struck.... "issue date".
These items are well struck and must have been expensive to make. I wonder if the Vienna Mint has records (if they were actually struck there).
I have 4 different ones - 4 different metals: Aluminum, Brass or Bronze, Copper Nickel and Silver. Fished 'em out of a dealer's 7-for-a-dollar bin.
The Newman Numismatic Portal has some information on Bernard O'Hea under various names. https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/searchwithterms?searchterm=o'hea Coin World 04/16/1986 (pg. 14) Ex dealer Barney O'Hea dies Barney O'Hea one of the most colorful figures in the world coin picture died March 15 reportedly of a heart attack in San Francisco. Mr O'Hea operated a firm known as Mint Roll Headquarters during the 1950s and later moved his business to Liechtenstein from which he did business as Nummorum Trust based in Vaduz He quickly won recognition as an innovator in his dealings with for (rest of article not available)