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.' And
on the back side, are thousands of drops of rain falling from a big
cloud. 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."
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