An unidentified flying object
on a 17th century French coin continues to mystify rare coin
experts.
Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB) January
28, 2005 -- 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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