Post Content:
Hello Numista members,
I would highly appreciate your expertise in helping me identify this very unusual piece I recently discovered in a remote mountainous area of North Africa (Algeria region).
Here are the details:
Material: Gold alloy, approximately 9K mixed with copper (confirmed by preliminary testing).
Weight: Around 6 grams.
Diameter: Roughly 27–30 mm (similar to a modern Algerian Dinar or slightly larger).
Color: Yellowish bronze with natural oxidation traces.
Obverse: Completely blank, smooth surface with a crack extending from the rim (appears to be an old accidental break rather than part of the original design).
Reverse: Two faint engraved circles and a small dot in the center.
Edge: Smooth and undecorated.
Contextual clues:
Found in an isolated mountainous area, away from urban centers.
The simple design suggests a functional purpose rather than official currency.
Possibly used as a cooperative agricultural token, for bread or food distribution (late 19th or early 20th century).
Additional Note:
The deep slit visible on the rim appears to result from an old crack, not an intentional manufacturing feature.
Questions:
Have you seen similar examples of rural or cooperative tokens made from a gold-copper alloy?
Could it be linked to specific North African cooperatives or local bakeries from the colonial or post-colonial period?
I would also appreciate your opinion regarding the historical significance of this piece. In your view, to which historical period or era could it possibly belong? Additionally, if possible, I would be grateful for any rough estimate of its potential value, purely for informational purposes. Thank you very much in advance .
Thank you very much for your valuable insights and help!
I will be happy to provide more detailed pictures if needed.
