Mumsnet Sleuths wanted- what is this I found in my garden?

[speakout]

Shamelessly posting this in AIBU for traffic.
I found this coin in my garden while planting. It looks like a coin but may be a token of some sorts- It is around 2-3 cm in diameter and metal. An inscription on one side - an alphabet I am not familiar with and a head engraved on the other. I don't imagine it is valuable, but I am very curious!!

It’s a Jewish war shekel.

That’s Hebrew

DaughterOfEvening Thankyou- although I am not exactly what that means. Is is a token Or currency? How old could it be?

LemonViolet thanks.

Looks like this one:
www.ebay.com/itm/275044526390?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200818143132%26meid%3D58e1bee1e9fc4097b9c57db2b100cd4c%26pid%3D101198%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D175139954852%26itm%3D275044526390%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLCvipPairwiseWebWithBBEV2bDemotion&_trksid=p2047675.c101198.m1985&amdata=cksum%3A27504452639058e1bee1e9fc4097b9c57db2b100cd4c%7Cenc%3AAQAGAAABAGKzsT%252FaHZba8%252FSLMzzijEmIH65pFVv6a2lPCqw1rYyTmuyuRGpOzCU0M%252Fvov0ZBwxnDhfiCl1lZFhEi9U8DI%252FgkBop15Xqa8pez2IBr5K2p9PLOO7KWAhiJxBRPFaUk9nSHofO%252BlhLEikX77RWTtc126lTm2eMcj9Rp7Iz18a29jzV6kFFHNZ4HvCBD2SF7SwQu6WZnEuDfdOCLDk1RxoSnRjdBOrJd6vQ7zOFZ%252FLmGGHTHaa1G6BtDxrUpOIQRgO4EpQXoUpBi6JH5UGVyXaO7wlZw%252B28PSEmdTR7OVALkR8XIUxsa41FyT%252Bvj0E6kBjv0PYnweW1wNOu%252BN7RXJIQ%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675
Antique Italy bronze Jesus medal 16th Century Rare Hebrew Inscription Messiah

obverse: left facing Christ, on either side. reverse: 5-line Hebrew legend (with incorrect letters) based on Hill p.50 ex. 2a (but "Adam" twice)

: משיח | מלך בא בש | לום ואדמ א | דם עשוי | חי.

Portrait of Christ said to be of Venetian School; medal issued in 16th Century to Jewish converts to Christianity.
On sale on US Ebay for $800

Odd that the image appears to resemble depictions of Jesus. The symmetry of the coin makes it look accurately cut

Yes it’s currency. It may be worth a few quid as indicated by the eBay link provided by the other poster on this thread. I’ve seen them in museums. Do you have a local history society who can help?

Oh wow- how exciting!!

I live on land neighbouring an Abbey that dates back to the 11th Century, my property is built on land once owned by the Abbey, which is just a few hundred metres away.

Could it be a copy or replica I wonder?

Are you in the U.K., OP?

SenoraMiasma yes- near Edinburgh.

How exciting. I’d never heard of these- it’s rather special. Did you clean it thoroughly? It looks rather ‘sharp’ to be old- perhaps a replica?

If you find two or more coins they have to be reported to the local coroner as treasure!

Etinoxaurus to be fair I did edit the picture a little, and increased the clarity to make the markings clearer.
elbea just one coin so far!! I may get a metal detector!!

Why would a Hebrew coin be in Scotland, I wonder?

Very interesting!

SenoraMiasma the link posted suggested it is Italian.
The Abbey near me was an important cistercian abbey, wealthy monks produced salt in a nearby seaside town and were some of the the first to commercially produce coal in the UK. They plundered a shipwrecked fleet of Spanish Armade ships in 1580 - many artifacts are still in the Abbey.
So trade links, including overseas were strong over the centuries. So not surprising that something from Italy found its way here.

Lovely find and very Eastery!

Oh this is exciting!

I will find a coin shop and perhaps take it in for evaluation.

treasuretrovescotland.co.uk/information/information-for-finders/

My husband is a detectorist and something like this he would need to report to Treasure Trove Scotland.

NeedAnOffSwitch oh wow- even if I find it on my own property?

Please update us when you find out if it’s authentic. Very exciting and, like a pp said, very apt to find it Easter weekend.

How exciting! Definitely get an expert to check its authenticity and try find more!

Following for exciting updates! Amazing find, op!

Very cool!