Swastika or NOT Swastika?

It was a great question, Ivan! It's good practice for when non-collectors ask us the same question. (That is of course if any of us are fortunate enough to own such a fine coin)

 

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We have had long threads here before about the swastika. Just because a symbol was used by an Austrian idiot 80 years ago does not change 5000 years of history. A swastika on an ancient coin had NOTHING to do with Nazism even if it wanted to. Up until the 1930's the swastika was used in the US as a symbol of good luck and fortune.

As to painting one on a car and driving through the city, you could have 100 years ago. A symbol is another form of communication. As such, TODAY people think you are spouting hatred by displaying this, but in the past you were wishing people good luck. So no, I do not advocate saying hateful things in any regard, but that is NOT what an ancient or any other coin up until 1930 is saying.

Symbolism is the most powerful form of communication on ancient coins. Until you accept and understand what the ancients meant by the symbol, everyone should leave their 20th century baggage at the door.

Btw, I agree the OP's coin is the incuse of the obverse design, not a swastika. However, if it had been a swastika it would have been a more interesting design.

 

All the references I see have it labeled as such. Mine is not as defined probably due to its size, but still lumped into that category by authors. It is as others said a very old symbol.

 

swastika, eh? ... yup, that was pretty cool, back then

 

Hoping that most of you are still watching this thread I would like to get some opinions.
First understand that I'm now referring to eBay specifically.
And "Swastika" is still the topic (hang on, I'll get to it).

I listed for sale something (stamp or coin?) from Syria. eBay axed it. I said to myself, "Okay".
I listed for sale some US postal stationery for US use in 1898 Cuba (right after the Spanish-American War). eBay axed it. I said to myself, "Wait a minute. This a US-made item for use by US personnel in Cuba. It is pre-Castro and in NO WAY a Cuban produced item." But I didn't relist; I didn't want to get suspended.

Now the Swastika part.
I'm reluctant to list a souvenir photo album from 1947 or 1948 of the area around Hitler's Eagle's Nest (Berchtesgaden).
I know the date is correct since I was there when it was bought.
It's sort of a before-and-after group of pictures.
One of the pictures shows a scene with a Swastika flag/banner in it.
Here it is:


In your opinion am I'm headed for trouble if I try to list the album?
And I want to avoid a buyer coming back at me if I just "happen not to include" this particular image in the listing.
It's the only image out of about 20 that includes the Swastika.
I think this photo album would sell well.

 

"I" personally think that it's totally fine, for you are merely showing "history" ... a very cool old photo of Hitler's house ...

=> obviously, it's totally different if you are selling pro-SS-Hitler, I hate the Jews kinda thingy ... yah, people frown on that

 

List it and have no fear! It's an historical image. It probably won't be on the market for long because someone will buy it.

 

Bravo! It is refreshing to see a man who knows history. Some of you other guys, too!

 

Does the OP coin show a 'swastika'? No. But lets not forget that in many references and publications they are just describing what they see, in their own language. Many scholarly publications make no sense to me at all. Why order things the way they do? Why the categorizations they use? To some it makes no sense but to those compiling the information and to many others it makes perfect sense.

In the post World War II world we all know what a swastika looks like (thanks to one madman). In this numismatic sense I think the word describes a general form, not the actual symbol. Perhaps a better description in catalogs might be 'swastika-like'. I dont know. But in 100 or more years the stigma will likely have diminished.

 

Thank you, Steve! You've helped me make up my mind about what will be my first ancient purchase of 2017. It's also going to be my first square coin.

 

'Swastika' symbol represented the sun as used by native Americans.
As a good luck symbol, I have a large token for 'Boy Scout Shoes' from 100 years ago depicting a scout on one side and a large swastika (for good luck) on the reverse.

 

Olen Suomi-Irlanti-Amerikkalainen ... my heritage of bad-AS'd fighters without resources!

I do love going to Finland! (And Ireland, of course!)


RR AE As P Blasio

 

A short and enjoyable read regarding swastikas:

http://www.winsociety.org/newsletter/vol-7/swastika.html

 

Since the topic is one of those meandering discussions many of the later posts (not coinage related) are now here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/swastikas-tanks-and-movies.289526/