{"id":36767,"date":"2025-12-09T00:27:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T00:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/pig-money-authentic-artifacts-or-numismatic-nonsense\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T00:27:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T00:27:14","slug":"pig-money-authentic-artifacts-or-numismatic-nonsense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/pig-money-authentic-artifacts-or-numismatic-nonsense\/","title":{"rendered":"Pig Money: Authentic Artifacts or Numismatic Nonsense?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By John Thomassen<\/strong> for the American Numismatic Society (ANS)<\/a><\/strong><\/span> \u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 1. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 1982.49.1<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As Collections Manager at the American Numismatic Society (ANS)<\/strong>, I have been fortunate enough to poke my head into practically every nook and cranny of the vault at the behest of academics, researchers, and members to locate an object for photography, confirm an object\u2019s weight or other details, and so on.<\/p>\n

Consequently, I often come across trays of objects that I have never seen or heard of before, and occasionally I stumble upon something that causes me to furrow my brow and (quietly) exclaim: What the heck are these things?<\/em><\/p>\n

One such occasion happened well over a year ago when I found a single tray in the Medals and Decorations department simply labeled \u201cPig Money<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n

I turned over several of the objects (some of which were as thick and heavy as Roman aes grave<\/em>; others as small and thin as a medieval denier or penny) and examined them. Some of the objects indeed had pigs<\/a><\/span> (or, at the very least, pig-like animals) depicted on them\u2013some featured lone animals, others had several pigs, and still others portrayed a sow and multiple piglets\u2013and yet some had no pigs or pig-like animals at all.<\/p>\n

Most of the objects looked vaguely \u2018ancient\u2019 but they differed in that some objects seemed to have legitimate, old patinas coupled with an archaic style, whereas others were almost cartoonish in nature, as if someone had asked a child to design an ancient coin.<\/p>\n

I resolved to figure out what these objects were but did not think to look into them again until I was notified that I had committed to writing this week\u2019s Pocket Change<\/em> blog post \u2013 a perfect opportunity to dive into the strange world of pigs.<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 2. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 1981.38.5<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When I pulled out the tray to examine them again in anticipation of writing this post, ANS Assistant Librarian Jared Goldfarb<\/strong> happened to be nearby. When I explained what my task was, he mentioned that colleague and Newman Numismatic Portal (NNP)<\/a><\/strong> <\/span>Digital Scribe Lara Jacobs<\/strong> had recently scanned some ANS archives that mentioned (and I will forgo using quotes from here on out) pig money. What luck!<\/p>\n

The archived material pertained to a series of letters between attorney Wilfred B. Feiga<\/strong> and ANS Curator<\/span> Howland Wood<\/strong><\/span><\/a> on the subject of \u201cAncient Hebrew coins\u201d per the envelope the letters were contained in.<\/p>\n

The first letter from Feiga dated August 15, 1921 was actually directed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MoMA)<\/strong>, wherein he asked for the name of the \u201cmost reliable authority on ancient Hebrew coins \u2026 in New York City<\/strong> or elsewhere\u201d<\/span> as Feiga was representing one Joseph Rosenthal<\/strong> of Worcester<\/strong>, Massachusetts<\/strong>, \u201ca gentleman who has inherited [a Hebrew coin] which is believed by the best authorities at our disposal thus far to date back to about 3,000 B.C.\u201d<\/span> which was discovered \u201cwhile digging in one of the mountains of Palestine<\/strong>.\u201d<\/span> Feiga goes on to note that \u201cIt may be worth many thousands of dollars, and of immeasurable value to the scientific world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 3. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 0000.10.41<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Upon receiving this letter, MoMA presumably told Feiga to contact the American Numismatic Society.<\/strong> Their reply is not included with the other letters.<\/p>\n

Feiga then sends a new letter addressed to the ANS dated August 17 in which he encloses a newspaper clipping from the August 9, 1921 edition of the Worcester Gazette<\/em> \u201cwhich explains itself<\/span>\u201d (unfortunately, this clipping is also absent from our archives) and indicates that Rosenthal \u201cis willing to sell the coin in question if the proper arrangements can be made.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

Feiga then states that, based on the oral history of the object as given by his client, \u201cI am personally of the opinion that it may be of unusual interest, and of considerable value.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 4. Pig money.<\/span> ANS 0000.10.42<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Howland Wood\u2019s response to this initial letter to the ANS dated August 19 is polite and his answer straightforward. Wood states that \u201cAccording to the picture in the enclosed newspaper clipping, the piece you mention is a fake pure and simple. This is made by casting and no coins of that period were made thus; they were struck. As near as we can find out, some busybody about one hundred years ago made a great many different kinds of pieces with pigs on the back of them and planted them around\u2026 Greece<\/strong>, Italy<\/strong> and the Levant<\/strong>. They have been turning up ever since, to the bother of numismatists. Many of these, in one form or another, are brought to this Museum each year. We lately received one from Hamadan<\/strong>, Persia<\/strong>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wood then provides the \u201cbest reference\u201d on such pieces, which is the \u201cJournal Internationale d\u2019Archaeologie Numismatique<\/em>, Athens, Vol. VIII, 1905.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 5. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 0000.10.43<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Figure
Figure 6. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 0000.10.44<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019ll pause here to note a few things.<\/p>\n

The first is that Wood makes it known to Feiga that \u201c[t]hese pieces have been written up several times\u201d<\/span> but only gives one reference. If there are any other contemporary sources mentioning these objects, I would love to see them; I have yet to find any.<\/p>\n

The second is that it is clear that these objects have been known since at least 1905 (the publication date of the given reference) but it is interesting to read that Wood claims they were created roughly a century prior and were not recent fabrications.<\/p>\n

Whether this is hyperbole on his part or rooted in fact I do not know, but it is interesting nonetheless.<\/p>\n

Lastly, I am equally delighted and dismayed that numismatists over 100 years ago were forced to contend with the same kind of unsolicited message as Wood does here, that of the \u201cI am positive I have something very rare and very valuable, can you please confirm my bias\u201d<\/span> persuasion \u2013 but more on that below.<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 7. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 0000.10.36<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Feiga responds to Wood the very next day in a letter dated August 20, and it is clear that he is anxious for more information, especially since Wood\u2019s answer does not align with the opinion of Feiga\u2019s client.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have received \u2026 with great interest your letter \u2026 It seems to me a very important matter and I do not wish to drop it until I have gone into it much more thoroughly\u201d<\/span> he writes, asking \u201cHave you any way of knowing in what language the letters appearing on [it] are written. The most learned Rabbi in Jerusalem, now dead, told Mr. Rosenthal\u2019s father that the script is ancient Hebrew, not the kind of Hebrew that was written in the time of Christ<\/strong>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Here we learn that it was Rosenthal\u2019s father who found the object in \u201cthe mountains of Palestine\u201d<\/span> as before we only knew that he inherited it. \u201cMr. Rosenthal assures me in all earnestness that the British Museum<\/strong> at Cairo<\/strong> offered his father one thousand pounds for the coin thirteen years ago \u2026 I wish you would let me know what kind of a coin you believe this is or what it was made in imitation of, if you believe it is an imitation. Is it Assyrian, Babylonian, Chaldean, Turkish, Arabic, Armenian, Persian or any other class.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Feiga then ends his letter by asking for the \u201cnames and addresses of a few people in the United States<\/strong> who might be able also to give me a valuable opinion on the question.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 8. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 0000.10.59<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Figure
Figure 9. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 0000.10.45<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is quite evident from Feiga\u2019s second letter that he does not like the first answer he received, both by imploring Wood to \u201clet me know what kind of a coin you believe this is\u201d<\/span> as if Wood did not already plainly state what the pig money was in his initial response, and then by asking for additional names and addresses in order to get what amounts to a second opinion on the matter.<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 10. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 0000.10.63<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thankfully, Wood\u2019s final response dated August 26 is wonderfully sharp and apparently par for the course for Wood, as I\u2019ve been told that he could be quite scathing and sardonic at times, albeit in the most professional way possible.<\/p>\n

To start, Wood admits that \u201cI have absolutely no doubt that Mr. Rosenthal and his father were both sincere in the belief that their coin is genuine as I have \u2026 become acquainted with others having coins similar to this, who have had them \u2026 so long that they are convinced that there is nothing wrong with their pieces.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He then confirms that \u201cthe lettering on your coin is old Hebrew\u201d<\/span> but that \u201cthere is nothing to prevent using old Hebrew letters on anything made in \u2026 modern times.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

Regarding the museum at Cairo, Wood has some choice words, stating \u201cI \u2026 take with a grain of salt the offer of a thousand pounds at the museum of Cairo; I never knew they ever had a thousand pounds to offer! Also, if my memory serves they never had anyone at the Cairo museum with much knowledge of coins.\u201d<\/span> Ouch!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 11. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 0000.10.61<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Figure
Figure 12. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 0000.10.62<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wood reiterates that \u201cYour piece in question is an imitation of no coin. It, and the series to which it belongs, is the pure fiction of someone\u2019s brain\u201d<\/span> and then proceeds to explain that most of the ancient cultures rattled off by Feiga did not use coined money, and that it was invented by the Greeks much later in history.<\/p>\n

Finally, Wood gives not one but four other individuals that Feiga can write to (dealer Henry Chapman<\/strong>, Dr. T.L. Comparette<\/strong> at the United States Mint<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, Dr. George F. Hill<\/strong> at the British Museum, and dealer Wayte Raymond<\/strong>) but that \u201cunder no circumstances do I care to have you use my name as all of these people would be incensed with me for referring such a matter to them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If that is not the most biting closer to a numismatic letter, I don\u2019t know what is!<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 13. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 1978.139.1<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By now the reader is probably wondering if the present author has lost the plot, as I have yet to actually write much about the pig money objects in the Society\u2019s collection.<\/p>\n

Dear reader, I would like to\u2013and I plan to\u2013but there is so much more to explore here, including looking in-depth at the reference cited by Wood, plus the few other articles and sources I have come across while researching this topic. As the title of this post might suggest, there is the possibility that these objects were created with real intent and were not mere tomfoolery or worse, made to sell to unsuspecting tourists. However, we will need to investigate those leads in a follow-up blog post or perhaps a feature in the ANS Magazine<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Until then, I will end this post with a few more examples, and a note that not all of the objects on the tray ought to fall under the category of pigs (I have also seen them called Balkan pigs<\/strong>). Five of the objects are clearly cast copies of aes grave of Hatria<\/strong>, Picenum<\/strong> in Italy (see ANS 0000.10.30<\/a><\/span>, ANS 0000.10.31<\/a><\/span>, ANS 0000.10.32<\/a><\/span>, ANS 1944.7.1<\/a><\/span>, and ANS 1944.82.1<\/a><\/span>) and others appear to be archaistic imitations, either with or without animals, but no pigs (see ANS 0000.10.34<\/a><\/span>, ANS 0000.10.35<\/a><\/span>, ANS 0000.10.37<\/a><\/span>, ANS 0000.10.38<\/a><\/span>, ANS 0000.10.39<\/span><\/a>, ANS 0000.10.40<\/span><\/a>, ANS 0000.10.46<\/a><\/span>, ANS 0000.10.47<\/a><\/span>, ANS 0000.10.57<\/a><\/span>, ANS 0000.10.58<\/a><\/span>, ANS 0000.10.60<\/a><\/span>, ANS 1937.84.1<\/a><\/span>, and 1993.141.26<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 14. Pig money. ANS<\/span> 0000.10.33<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The remaining objects have pigs (or approximations of such) and thus safely earn their moniker. Of these, all are unique types represented by just one example on the tray, save for a group of nine with a king facing right on the obverse and a partially-garbled Greek legend\u2013likely a corruption of BA\u03a3I\u039bE\u03a9\u03a3<\/strong> and presumably followed by the name of said king\u2013and a sow and piglets on the reverse, either with or without a shepherd figure at their right (see ANS 0000.10.48, ANS 0000.10.49, ANS 0000.10.50, ANS 0000.10.51, ANS 0000.10.52, ANS 0000.10.53, ANS 0000.10.54, ANS 0000.10.55, and ANS 0000.10.56).<\/p>\n

As the legend found on these objects is not consistent across the board, if an enterprising reader believes they know what the name of this king is supposed to be, I am all ears.<\/p>\n

There are legends on some of the other objects featured here, and I am also happy to receive transcriptions and\/or translations with respect to those.<\/p>\n

Until then, please \u2018pig out\u2019 on the information and images supplied here, and do get in touch if you have anything to share regarding these strange objects.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

\"Medieval<\/p>\n

\n

Want more stories like this? Sign up for the CoinWeek newsletter<\/strong> and never miss a rare discovery, auction highlight, or collector deep-dive.<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The post Pig Money: Authentic Artifacts or Numismatic Nonsense?<\/a> appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By John Thomassen for the American Numismatic Society (ANS) \u2026\u2026 Figure 1. Pig money. ANS 1982.49.1. As Collections Manager at the American Numismatic Society (ANS), I have been fortunate enough to poke my head into practically every nook and cranny of the vault at the behest of academics, researchers, and members to locate an object […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-finance"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-10-25 22:03:21","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36767"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36767\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}