Firstly have a look at this (http://www.netheredge.com/embossed.jpg)

It is a tracing of a pattern found embossed on an object. Actually it's the mirror image, since the whole thing was back to front on the object, making me think it was a coin.

I'm no linguist, but I think it is arabic in the centre and urdu along the top.

100 is reproduced in arabic numerals on the right, adding more weight to the coin theory.

Any clues what it says, or where the coin comes from?

Would really like to know, all help mch appreciated.

I have many arabic teachers at school Phan, so I will show them tomorrrow and get back to you :P

Nice one Gillie, thx a bundle

case closed maybe?

I'm sure I've got a coin like this in my "collection". (Yes... I used to collect coins...) Next time I'm round at my parent's I'll try and dig it out for you.

I thought my grandad brought it back from some country during the war...

yabba yabba...

The writing is the middle is...riyal wahid -> One Riyal ?

the numbers at the right are...100, with the english 100 on the left. I don't know if it's one riyal or 100 riyals, or what country it is from. Do you have an image of the other side?

the writing on the bottom is, from left to right..

m (abbreviation for year)
1
3
9
6

so, year 1396 I think. I am assuming the Arabic year 1396, instead of Gregoran 1396, so I guesstimate that Arabic year 1400 was 1980 AD, so the coin dates from 1976 AD.

I can't interpret the writing at the top. It may indeed be Urdu. I can read it, but not understand it....Maaket Hallet ?

Thanks Abby, that's a great help.

In fact it was all the information I needed to uncover what I believe to be a Saudi Arabian 100 halala (1 Riyal) coin.

I think this is confirmed by this (http://www.joelscoins.com/sau47.jpg) pic of a 25 halala coin (with a tiny error in it, hence being pictured on a numismatists website)

This coin has the same numbering at the bottom, and the site says this is actually a 1972 coin. (arabic year 1392) - but that's largely a matter of my transcription I think.

here (http://www.netheredge.com/coinpic.jpg) is the original image which I was working with.

Anyone in possession of such a coin, so I can confirm my findings? Tony?

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
Anyone in possession of such a coin, so I can confirm my findings? Tony?I won't be visiting my parents for a few weeks - but I'll try to remember to have a look when I do go back. It's nothing urgent I presume...?

Far from urgent Tony, far from urgent.