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Israel Finds Rare 2,200-Year-Old Gold Coin
NPR ^
| 11 Aug 2010
| anon
Posted on 08/11/2010 5:21:36 PM PDT by BlackVeil
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To: Verginius Rufus
Actually, the Ptolemies were a dynasty set up by Alexander’s general, Ptolemy.
Guess they better send it to Macedon.
21
posted on
08/11/2010 10:13:29 PM PDT
by
dsc
(Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
To: Mike Darancette; SunkenCiv
So what are the odds that a 2,200 year old coin weighs 1 Oz Avoirdupois?Gold comes in troy ounces. They've been around for a long time. I think. Maybe? Makes sense, right?
To: Plutarch
That is a truly beautiful coin. And huge!
23
posted on
08/12/2010 5:31:02 AM PDT
by
Little Ray
(The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!)
To: dsc
Yes, the Ptolemaic dynasty was started by Ptolemy, one of Alexander's generals. He wrote an account of Alexander's conquests which does not survive but which was used by Arrian, whose history of Alexander the Great does survive. Arrian thought Ptolemy's version was reliable because it would be unseemly for a king to lie.
There's a very nice archaeological museum in Thessalonica which would probably be delighted to get the coin, but no chance of that happening.
To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume
If youd like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
..................
25
posted on
08/12/2010 8:21:19 AM PDT
by
SJackson
(In wine there is wisdom, In beer there is freedom, In water there is bacteria.)
To: BlackVeil
You must admit ... they can fairly say that this is a product which lasts.
Yes, but can you eat it? /s
26
posted on
08/12/2010 10:36:55 AM PDT
by
Atlas Sneezed
(Anything worth doing, is worth doing badly at first.)
To: Verginius Rufus
“There’s a very nice archaeological museum in Thessalonica”
Sigh. Well, maybe next year...
27
posted on
08/12/2010 11:48:27 AM PDT
by
dsc
(Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
To: SunkenCiv
To: colorado tanker
Shame on me for laughing at that, considering that the original photo probably shows that man working his keister off in ways not familiar in the US since Tesla’s alternating current motors revolutionized industry. :’)
29
posted on
08/12/2010 2:29:46 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
To: TheOldLady; Mike Darancette
It’s an amazing coincidence that an ounce weighs 28 grams, if ya ask me. ;’)
30
posted on
08/12/2010 2:32:50 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
To: SunkenCiv
To: Mobties
Its Greek. I can't read the inscription from the photo, but it usually says something like 'Ptolemy Basilus' (King Ptolemy), sometimes with a regnal year in the reverse field. Not even this gold coin is the coolest thing though, the Tyrian Shekel , found in the same part of the world, is without a doubt one of the most exciting coin types in existance...
To: Mobties
Its Greek. I can't read the inscription from the photo, but it usually says something like 'Ptolemy Basilus' (King Ptolemy), sometimes with a regnal year in the reverse field. Not even this gold coin is the coolest thing though, the Tyrian Shekel , found in the same part of the world, is without a doubt one of the most exciting coin types in existance...
To: Verginius Rufus
I doubt it.
After all, the Egyptians have yet to pay the back wages (plus interest) for all the labor that they extracted out of their Hebrew slaves back in the day...
34
posted on
08/12/2010 4:55:25 PM PDT
by
gogogodzilla
(Live free or die!)
To: TheOldLady
Troy and Avoirdupois weight are both European in originand the coin prpbably predates them by at least 1,000 years.
35
posted on
08/12/2010 5:48:48 PM PDT
by
Mike Darancette
(Socialism is the philosophy of failure, - W Churchill)
To: Mike Darancette
To: Mike Darancette; TheOldLady
However the troy ounce is based on the Roman weight system where a troy ounce equaled a unit called a "uncia" which was 1/12 of a "aes grave" (troy pound). That system of weights dates to at least 289 BC.
I have no idea where the Romans got it from but it probably was based on something older yet.
37
posted on
08/12/2010 6:40:07 PM PDT
by
Harmless Teddy Bear
(there are huge chunks of time...at night...where I'm just asleep...for hours...it's ridiculous....)
To: Harmless Teddy Bear; Mike Darancette
I love you guys and FR. Thank you. I’m never too old to learn, or perhaps relearn something I forgot.
High school, 48 years ago. ;-D
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