Help Identify please

ken · Senior Member

Happy 4th to all Very Happy

.Has anyone seen one of these before.I'm pretty sure it is silver.Country?Year made??? Question

What does it symbolize Question

Looks like the Sphinks and the pyramids on 1 side.Eygpt maybe?Symblos under the spinks may be a code for the date.Any comments will be a great help.Thank you Ken

KurtS · Senior Member

Well, speaking of Egyptian iconography... Laughing

The large figure is probably Isis, identified by the sun disk. Ra usually has a falcon head. In any case, this isn't remotely accurate, so that doesn't matter. This might be as old as the early 1800s, when Napoleon occupied Egypt and interest in all things Egyptian began. This kind of thing was popular into the 1920s, then picked up again in the 60s, but I'd say yours is on the earlier end. The symbols around figure appear to be a mix of astrological signs and random hieroglyphics--not sure there's any meaning there. People often "write" things with hieroglyphics, but there's no direct relation to our alphabet--vowels were implied, not written. As far as I can tell, the symbols below the Sphinx are not a date, unless someone simply made up something. Laughing

The medallion looks like a combination of stamping and handwork. The only possible way to date it would be to find another within a more narrow context of time. As it's rather crudely made, it might be a tourist piece from Egypt, unless it's solid silver alloy--then perhaps US or Europe? Confused

Just guesses here.

Dick · Expert Member

Kurt, I agree, that it is Egypt. Thge symbals on the left, from the dot on down indicate life, as implied by the "Omega" symbal. Beyond that, it would be pure conjecture on mt part. I have some books pn the Egyptian culture, but I haven't gone into them to see whatm if anything might be derived.
Dick

Dick · Expert Member

Kurt, you awaken memories that have been forgotten these many years. I used to try to learn to read theEgyptian hierglyphics, many years ago, when I was also collecting world cons, and even brfore. I had a period of time when I was also into archeology, and That was what led me into the egyptian area. The same with the works of Churchwood, and the lost continent of Mu. All of which has othing to do with errors, and varieties, unless we appempt to find a few in the Ancient coinage of the Dawn of civilization.
Dick

coop · Expert Member

Dick: Let me guess: This was after the 1930's right? It was also very popular subject in the 1960's as well. King Tut lives on.

Dick · Expert Member

Kurt, t was quite a bit after the '30's. Actually in 1961 when it started. I was gong to leadersgip, and instructors school. I got an insatiable urge for "Knowledge". I even studied a lot about Paramahansa Yogananda. How's that foe a pouthful?
Dick

ken · Senior Member

Hi all,Thank you for all your input.You say possibly the early 1800's.That would coincide with the 1830 Catholic medal I posted as they both came from the same family when purchased the other day in an estate sale.Thank you again guys.