The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 5, January 30, 2005, Article 24

NOSTRADAMUS' POCKET PIECE, PERHAPS?

A January 28th press release describes "An unidentified
flying object on a 17th century French coin continues to
mystify rare coin experts.

After decades of seeking possible answers about a mysterious
UFO-like design on a 17th century French copper coin, a
prominent numismatic expert says it remains just that: an
unidentified flying object. After a half-century of research,
the design has defied positive identification by the 
numismatic
community.

"It was made in the 1680s in France and the design on one
side certainly looks like it could be a flying saucer in the
clouds over the countryside," said Kenneth E. Bressett of
Colorado Springs, Colorado, a former President of the
32,000-member American Numismatic Association and
owner of the curious coin.

"Is it supposed to be a UFO of some sort, or a symbolic
representation of the Biblical Ezekiel's wheel? After 50
years of searching, I've heard of only one other example
of it, and nothing to explain the unusual design."

Bressett said the mysterious piece is not really a coin, but
a "jeton," a coin-like educational tool that was commonly
used to help people count money, or sometimes used as
a money substitute for playing games. It is about the size
of a U.S. quarter-dollar and similar to thousands of other
jetons with different religious and educational designs that
were produced and used in Europe during the 16th and
17th centuries.

"The design on this particular piece could be interpreted
as showing either a UFO or Ezekiel's wheel, but little else.
Some people think the Old Testament reference to Ezekiel's
wheel may actually be a description of a long-ago UFO,"
he explained.

"The legend written in Latin around the rim is also 
mystifying.
'OPPORTUNUS ADEST' translates as 'It is here at an
opportune time.' Is the object in the sky symbolic of needed
rainfall, or a Biblical reference or visitors from beyond? We
probably will never know for certain," said Bressett.

"It is part of the lure of numismatics that makes coin
collecting so intriguing."

Full Story

[Be sure to click on the images of the token to see
enlarged views. Sure looks like a classic UFO to me!

Nostradamus lived from 1503 to1566, over 100 years
before this jeton was minted. But he predicted everything
else, so why not UFOs and this token? -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

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