Israel Finds Rare 2,200-Year-Old Gold Coin

NPR ^ | 11 Aug 2010 | anon

[dsc]

Actually, the Ptolemies were a dynasty set up by Alexander’s general, Ptolemy.

Guess they better send it to Macedon.

[TheOldLady]

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?

[Little Ray]

That is a truly beautiful coin. And huge!

[Verginius Rufus]

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.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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[Atlas Sneezed]

You must admit ... they can fairly say that this is a product which lasts.

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Yes, but can you eat it? /s

[dsc]

“There’s a very nice archaeological museum in Thessalonica”

Sigh. Well, maybe next year...

[colorado tanker]

[SunkenCiv]

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. :’)

[SunkenCiv]

It’s an amazing coincidence that an ounce weighs 28 grams, if ya ask me. ;’)

[TheOldLady]

28.3495

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

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...

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

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...

[gogogodzilla]

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...

[Mike Darancette]

Troy and Avoirdupois weight are both European in originand the coin prpbably predates them by at least 1,000 years.

[TheOldLady]

Thanks for the info. :-)

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

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.

[TheOldLady]

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