The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 29, July 22, 2007, Article 22

HOW ANCIENT COINS FOUND THEIR WAY TO ENGLAND

The Hemel Gazette of Hemel Hempstead, England published an article
about a local coin find that includes an interesting note about many
ancient coins found their way to England and elsewhere in modern times.

"The receipt of an ancient coin from a Gazette reader created great
interest recently when it was handed over to Berkhamsted Local History
and Museum Society, as requested by reader 84-year-old James Fellowes,
of North Walsham, Norfolk.

"The coin is a Billon Tetradrachm from the mint of Alexandria in Egypt.

"This is a very common coin and if sold to a collector today would
fetch about £12.

"Peter says: "Take no notice of the provenance - it was probably
brought back and lost by a Second World War serviceman who had
visited Egypt.

"A friend of mine, stationed in Egypt during the war, told how, like
many servicemen, he was inveigled into climbing the Great Pyramid at
Giza (you could then!)

"Halfway up with his guide he stopped for a breather at which point
the guide produced a handful of these coins, explaining that they
were 'very ancient genuine Roman coins, very valuable' and that
most people bought their coins at this point on the pyramid.

"As Frank, my friend, remarked, looking down some 250 feet, he could
see reason in buying coins at that point. Many did likewise. He never
did tell me how much he paid - no doubt an exorbitant sum then, in
relation to service pay."

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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