Update - 04
SEP 2020
Alas, none of the experts here have replied on this unusual item but at last its identity has come to light. Sure enough, it is modeled after a sort of 'Parthian-like' artistry but it is actually an
Armenian medal commemorating
King Argashti I of Urartu, 786 - 764 BC, which precedes the time when coinage actually is thought to have begun. This
Armenian king would have ruled over 400 years before
Alexander the Great. In any case, a nearly identical specimen, a little less
sharp, appeared in a recent online
auction by a major
auction company and they cataloged it so I'm taking their word for its
identification. The
auction was a few weeks ago. Been wondering what this big (55+ mm, 90+ grams) bronze
medal was and now there's at least some helpful information about it.
With that information I was able to find a little more:
1968 Soviet
Armenian (Soviet Russian/USSR) jubilee (
medal) "dedicated to the 2750th
Anniversary of one of the world's most ancient capitals, Yerevan (Erebuni- Yerevan). Argishti I (
Armenian: Արգիշտի), was the sixth known
king of Urartu, reigning from 786 BC to 764 BC. He founded the citadel of Erebuni in 782 BC, which is the present capital of
Armenia, Yerevan."
At last, mystery pretty much solved.
DW
OK - begging the indulgence of the moderators here. Attached here are images of a large bronze
medallion that appears to be modeled after imagery reminiscent of
Parthian or similar artistic
themes on
ancient coins. This is definitely not ancient but artistically derivative of the ancient imagery with a
chariot carrying 'the king' and drawn by two decorated horses on one
side and crowned, curly-bearded 'king' with
stylized feathered helmet on the other.
Symbols might be readable by someone here or the medallion's origin might be known or recognized. It's 55mm
diameter and weighs nearly about 90 grams, bronze. Nice object but a
bit of a mystery.
Pics are shot with cell phone but clearly show all the design elements and 'symbols'.
Thanks in advance for any
help identifying who might have struck this
medallion.
PtolemAE