Coin

Coin

A small coin inscribed in 'oriental script'. This coin has not yet been identified in the Queensland Museum collection, but is the subject of further research. The initial identification of the script by the Queensland Museum as 'oriental' suggests that this coin was inscribed with a Jewish or Arabic script, both of which were used on coins in this area.

The coin is said to have been uncovered by ER Sgt Leslie William Page beneath a mosaic floor on a hilltop at or near Deir El Belah, Palestine, in 1917 along with human remains, nails, tesserae and other coins. This collection was donated by Page to the Queensland Museum in July 1933. In a letter accompanying his donation, Page records that he uncovered the mosaic and other finds "on the top of a fairly high sugar load sort of hill... at a depth of some 6 or 8 inches under the sand". The find probably occured between March and May 1917 when Page was stationed with the Australian Provost Corps near Deir el-Belah.

C.013.017

Collected by ER Sgt. Leslie Page, Deir El-Belah, Gaza Strip, 1917.
Donated by ER Sgt. Leslie Page to the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, July 1933.

Queensland Museum, Brisbane

Queensland Museum Inwards Correspondence #00323 (1933)

Queensland Museum Inwards Correspondence #00373 (1933)

P.013

Mr James Donaldson