Bienvenue to
the Official Web-Site of L’île d’Héliopolis |
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This is a simple page designed to broadcast the numismatic objets d'art from L’île d’Héliopolis. I am extremely glad you found it on the Internet and I hope it is of interminable interest to you! Some of the most captivating coins in my collection come from self-declared micronations, non-territorial states, pseudo-états, nonexistent countries, and secessionist movements. Philatelists may be at an advantage, for they use the term “cinderella” stamps to categorize issuers of fantasy, apocryphal, spurious, and pretender items. For us, however, these entities are hard to define; but many of them can be found in Colin R. Bruce II's exceptional Unusual World Coins catalog. I encourage you to read my introductory essay about this distinct breed of coinage. I am referring to sources from which I have acquired at least one coin: Abemana, Adélie Land, Adventure Club, Afro Coin Mint/“United States of Africa”, American Open Currency Standard (AOCS), Amsterdam and St. Paul Islands, Ankh-Morpork, Empire of Antoninia, Kingdom of Araucania-Patagonia, Independent Republic of Arequipa, Atlantis, Atlantis (ATCOPS), Kingdom of Atlantis, Empire of Atlantium, Australia Fair, Grand Duchy of Avram, Axarquía, Azad Hind, Balleny Islands, Sovereign State of Barbe Island, Benelux, Kingdom of Bermania, Kingdom of Biffeche, Boys’ Republic of Civitavecchia/Boys’ Town of Rome, Isle of Brechou, Dominion of British West Florida, Buck Island, Burk/Grant/Pine/Siple Islands, Republic of Camala/Republic of Malaca/Republic of Amalia, Campione d'Italia, Carney Island, Castorland, Cat Cay, Catalanist Union (Unió Catalanista), Sovereign Barony of Caux, Celestia (the Nation of Celestial Space), Cherokee Nation, United Cherokee Nation, Free City of Christiania, Conch Republic, Confederate States of America, Confederation of Antarctica, Ile Crescent, Crozet Islands, Federation of Damanhur, State of Deseret, Dixie Dollar, Republic of the Earth, Kingdom of Elleore, Enderbyland, Euskal Herria (Basque Country), Evrugo Mental State, The Most Serene Republic of Excelsior, Ferdinandea (Graham Island), Flanders, Free State of Flaschenhals, Foundation for Cosmonoetic Investigations, Frederikssund (Møntklubben), Principality of Freedonia, Friesland, Friuli Homeland, Gaferut, Gallery Mint, George Junior Republic, Global Country of World Peace, Gold Standard Corporation, Graceland, Great Underground Empire (Kingdom of Quendor), Greenpeace, Grand Duchy of Greifenberg, HADEF (Hunger Aid and Development Foundation), Hutt River Province, International Foundation for Independence, Islamic Mint, Kaliningrad, Kingdom of Kamberra, Kerguelen Islands, Klef Raraha, United Federation of Koronis, Kumalongoola, Lasqueti Mint (Lasqueti Island/Gabriola Island/Cascadia), League of Nations, Regency of Lomar, “Luna”/“der Mond”, Lundy, Mägi Päiväine, Mattole Free State, McMurdo (Station), City of Microna (Republic of Veshault/Kingdom of TorHavn), Republic of Minerva, Republic of Mirage Islands, Republic of Molossia, Republic of Monte Cristo, Free Commune of Moresnet (Neutral Moresnet), Na-Griamel Federation, NERO (New England Roleplaying Organization), Commonwealth of New Island, Principality of New Utopia, NORFED (Liberty Dollar), Northern Forest Archipelago, Nova Roma, Nuikviss Aoi, Sultanate of Occussi-Ambeno, Principality of Outer Baldonia, Federal Republic of Padania/Lega Nord (Unione del Nord)/Repubblica del Nord, Pampapana, Principality of Paradise, Republic of La Parva Domus Magna Quies, Peter I Island, Phoenix Dollar, Piedmontese Federalist Movement, Sovereign Nation of Poarch Creek Indians, Purple Shaftieuland, Québec, RCC (rec.collecting.coins), Kingdom of Riboalte, Rio-Grandensse Republic, Riviera Principality, Kingdom of Robland, Kingdom of Romkerhall, Royal Hawaiian Mint, State of Sabotage, Salt Spring Island, San Blas Islands, Republic of San Serriffe, Principality of Sealand, Principality of Seborga, Sovereign Nation of the Shawnee Tribe, Shenandoah Valley Free Money, Sherman Island, Shire Post Mint, Historic Silver Valley, Society for Creative Anachronism, Ultimate State of Tædivm, Tarim (Arabia), Tender Island, Republic of Texas, Texas Mint, Thurston Island, Kingdom of Torgu, Empire of Trebizond, Tyrolean Hour, Union of North America, United Maxxico America, United Nations, United Transnational Republics, Universala Ligo, “Utopia” (Mundus Unum), Viinamarisaar, Principality of Vikesland, Vinland/Midhgardhr, Vostok (Station), Kingdom of Wallachia, Grand Duchy of Westarctica (Antarctic Territory), Principality of Wikingland, Xenostrov, Nation of YAN, Kingdom of Zamunda. For more information about most of these coins, please view the invaluable links I've compiled. I must also respectfully honor the unprecedented labor of Richard D. Kenney, whose posthumous compilation appeared in the ANA's The Numismatist between 1962-64. Even in the early 1950s, Mr. Kenney realized the beauty and collectibility of these unique coins. Perhaps this text has a familiar ring to it thus far; that is because portions of it have been copied from the Web-site of the first coin-emitting entity I concocted: Nichtsburg and Zilchstadt. No sooner had its initial coin been minted, than I began to enthusiastically tackle the designs for this current endeavor. I'm pretty sure, though, that this will be the final semi-geographical, make-believe “site” which I “sire”; especially the final fictional location which issues faux specie. The L’île d’Héliopolis
coins are also based on my poetry. For years, I have been mesmerized by
solar imagery and symbolism. It is a theme to which I return every now and
again, and it never seems to lose its vitality and freshness. For each of
these coins, I have taken fragments from some of those poems, and joined
them together like a collage. The inaugural L’île d’Héliopolis 5 Çoles, dated 2004: For this particular coin, one of my original
goals was that it be somewhat reminiscent of many of the municipal notgeld
tokens that I admire. As a result, this Cinco Çoles (Five Suns)
piece emanates not only from the central governing authority (in this
case, the Isle of Heliopolis and its chimerical treasury), but more
specifically, from another body within its insular boundaries: the
alliterative Ligue des Fils et Filles du Soleil (League of the
Sun's Sons and Daughters). The monetary unit is the Çol
(Çoles being the plural), which is phonetically identical to the
Peruvian Sol/Soles. The radiant symbol on the obverse is that of
Shamash and his all-seeing light; this disc represented the Mesopotamian
(Sumerian/Akkadian/Babylonian/Assyrian) solar deity approximately 3,000
years ago, though the actual sun-god is substantially more ancient. On the
reverse, there is the legend Sonnenmünze der Sonnenkinder. This
inscription hopes to affirm the special function of this piece as the
“Sun-Coin of the Sun-Children”, one of which is borne by each of the
depicted youths.
This coin is 39mm in
diameter, and 3mm thick. It was minted by the Northwest Territorial Mint, in a run of
50 copper and 5 silver. I am sold out of all 2004 pieces. The L’île d’Héliopolis 3 Çoles Isleños, dated 2006: Essentially, the soulful gist of this coin is
wholly in lockstep with the heliocentric leitmotif of its forerunner.
Though an isleño may be a native/inhabitant of an island, the word
can also be defined as: of, relating to, pertaining to, or befitting an
isle. The obverse of this piece is emblazoned with an insignia whose
perfectly balanced decorativeness is filled with symbolic significance. It
is an age-old representation of the sun, inherent to the Zia/Tsia Pueblo,
and which adorns the flag of New Mexico. According to their spiritual
lore, riches were bestowed upon them by the “Giver of All Good Gifts” in
orderly groups of four. This hallowed number is divinely embodied in the
main directions of the earth, the seasons of the year, the segments of the
day (sunrise/morning/dawn, noon/daylight, sunset/evening/dusk,
night/darkness) and the stages/divisions of life itself
(childhood/infancy, youth, adulthood, old age). All of these blessed
bequests correspond to 16 linear rays which radiate from the center of a
circle. These elements are everlastingly bound together at their bases by
the orb, which epitomizes existence and love, both of which are without
beginning or ending. Moreover, the tribe believes that in this great
fellowship/alliance of all things, each person bears 4 sacred
responsibilities/obligations: to develop a strong body, a clear mind, a
pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of one's family/people. On the
reverse of the coin, assisting its attainment of a full-fledged thematic
denouement, are three Sun parakeets (Aratinga solstitialis in the
taxonomy of Linnaeus; and in Portuguese, because this bird is indigenous
to Brasil, Jandaia-sol). It is pleasant to imagine them as
zoomorphic aspects, earthly manifestations of the omniscient sun, who
frequents our world by adopting a sprightly animal form; who dons this
lively guise and becomes inconspicuous by blending in with the tropical
background; who, no longer hindered by the astounding distance of space,
uses a feathery façade to gain sound, experiential insights while in our
midst.
This coin is 36mm in
diameter, and 3mm thick. It was minted by Pressed Metal Products, in a run
of 54 copper and 11 silver (plus 2 pre-production samples: one in
copper-nickel and one in brass). I am sold out of all 2006
pieces. The L'île d'Héliopolis Medio Çol, dated 2008: This coin completes the Heliopolitan triptych.
Several years before I decided to produce medallions for Nichtsburg &
Zilchstadt and L'île d'Héliopolis, I tried to imagine how a coin made of
glass would look. This was actually my very first idea for a self-issued
coin. The visual details of the piece would be realized through the
process of frosting, thus giving a dull and lusterless finish to those
decorative, non-transparent portions of the surface (we’ve all seen
frosted areas on beer mugs). Sandblasting is one of the simplest and most
versatile methods for achieving this effect. The results are very similar
to acid etching. Both procedures produce smooth matte surfaces, but
sandblasted areas can be slightly rougher to the touch. When a piece of
glass is sandblasted, a jet of fine sand (or similar hard grit) is forced
(from the nozzle of a sandblasting gun with the help of compressed air)
against its surface, which removes the polish from the glass. Although
sand can be used, more effective abrasive materials with less toxic
effects are now available. Silicon carbide is commonly used, as is
electro-corundum (aluminium oxide). The glass is normally placed inside a
special cabinet with arm holes, a viewing window and dust extraction
facilities. If required, parts of the design may be masked so the piece is
only partially frosted. The technique of sandblasting was invented in 1870
by a Philadelphian named Benjamin Chew Tilghman. Legend has it that
Tilghman had seen the effect of wind-blown sand on windows in the desert
and/or prairies while a general in the army, and that this was the
inspirational basis of his sandblasting invention. He filed a patent for
this process (U.S. Patent Number 104,408) that same year, detailing many
of the applications for which this technique is uniquely suited, such as
sharpening files, engraving bottles, cleaning boilers or bringing out the
grain in wood. Later that year, a patent was issued in the United Kingdom
(U.K. Patent # 2147). He refined the technique for various purposes,
whereby further patents and developments followed. Coincidentally,
Tilghman graduated from the University of Pennsylvania — which also
happens to also be my alma mater — in
1839. Mr. Alan produced a total
of 25 glass medallions (plus 5 pre-production samples). Each one is 49mm
in diameter, and 6mm thick. I am sold out of all 2008 pieces.
The actual Heliopolis
(“City of the Sun”) was one of the oldest and most principal cities of
ancient Egypt. Its Egyptian name was Iunu or Onu or Annu (“Pillar City”),
and in the Bible it is called On. The site had been occupied since the
Predynastic Period, with extensive building campaigns during the Old and
Middle Kingdoms. According to Volume 5 of The New Encyclopædia
Britannica, Heliopolis was “the seat of worship of the sun god, Re. It
was the capital of the 15th nome [province] of Lower Egypt, but Heliopolis
was important as a religious rather than a political centre. Its great
temple of Re was second in size only to that of Amon at Thebes, and its
priesthood wielded great influence, particularly during the 5th dynasty,
when the worship of Re became the state cult. In the New Kingdom, the
temple of Re-Horakhte became the repository of royal records.” Volume 14
of the Encyclopedia Americana explains that “From the 5th dynasty
(beginning about 2500 B.C.) each pharaoh was called ‘Son of Re,’ and
Heliopolis was the spiritual center of Egypt. The priests of the Temple of
Re had great political power, and Herodotus states that they were
reputedly the best historians in Egypt.” The site flourished as a famous
seat of higher learning during the Greek period, and its schools of
philosophy and astronomy are claimed to have been frequented by the Greek
statesman Solon; the philosophers Pythagoras, Plato, Solon, Thales,
Eudoxus are also said to have studied there. By the Ptolemaic dynasty,
Egypt’s rulers probably took little interest in their “father”, Re. Thus,
with the withdrawal of pharaonic favor, Heliopolis dwindled, and the
students of native lore deserted it for other temples supported by a
wealthy population of pious citizens. In addition, Heliopolis quickly
declined after the founding of the Alexandrian Library, whereupon the
scholarship of Alexandria permanently eclipsed the learning of Heliopolis.
By the 1st century B.C., the town itself was almost uninhabited. When the
Greek historian and geographer Strabo visited Heliopolis in 24 B.C., he
found the schools and temples almost deserted. In Roman times Heliopolis
belonged to the Augustamnica
province. Fortunately, the mystical
allure of Heliopolis still appeals to many people. The Heliopolitan
coinage has been favorably received and warmly embraced by collectors
worldwide (Andorra, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic,
England, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia,
Saudi Arabia, Spain, United Arab Emirates).
So if your sunny
disposition finds Héliopolis appealing, perhaps you will reserve a spot in
your collection for one of its handsome coins; right next to your Adelas,
Decas, Ducals, Cali, Skaloj, Steloj, and all the other uncommon,
privately-made coins of the unofficial “world”.
Additionally, I am always
eager to learn of newfound numismatic objects that fall into this
fascinating category, so if you know of any ou-topoi (Greek for
“non-lands”, “non-places”, “non-loci”) or other peculiar localities
(countercountries, microstates, “new country” projects,
online/cyber-nations, virtual republics, quasi-states,
phantom/imaginary/ephemeral/unrecognized governments, or model countries)
which distribute their own coins, please let me know. Also,
feel free to contact me if you just want to chat with another aficionado
about these types of coins. To make your research easier, be sure to visit
my extremely detailed list
of e-mail addresses and Web-sites. Three cheers for coins from
the “Lands-of-almost-but-not-quite”! Viva numismatic unusualness, even if
from the most seldom-seen or unheard-of locales, however unreal!
E-mail: [email protected] |
I am immensely elated to announce
that 2 full-color postage stamps, dated 2004, have been professionally
produced for L’île d’Héliopolis by Mr. Inzander Berenku, of
Occussi-Ambeno's Imperial Government Printing Office (KDPN, Kantor Diraja Penchetakan
Negara). In
closing, I felt that it would be fitting to herein include my unabridged
compilation of epigraphs. I have garnered these beautiful literary quotes
over the years, and I intend to include them in a published anthology of
all my sun-themed poetry. Enjoy!
On my
isle If the
eye were not sun-like, A
sentence is an idea. An idea with urgency.
The
glorious lamp of Heav'n, the radiant sun,
I am
Azatiwatas, Shadows
are long and dark before me. I ought
to be thinking and talking Ah,
sunflower! Weary of time, Opposite me laughs the city
newly made: Humor
is an out-of-doors virtue. The
world sighs not; she sounds a song Sun of
being, Prince and Master! The
earth is mostly just a boneyard. O what
made fatuous sunbeams toil The sun
itself is but the dark simulacrum, Praise
to thee, my Lord, for all thy creatures,
The
cheeks of our Saxon maidens ...the
rounded Everyone knows that in dreams
one never sees the sun, The sun
never repents of the good he does, How I
shall freeze after all this sun! The sun
is the blanket of the poor. Mexican saying
There
is nothing so destructive for spoken words
The sun
never sets without fresh news. Xhosa proverb
Goodness comes out of people
who bask in the sun. The
sun-dial counts only the bright hours. German proverb
During
summer days I suffer from continued hunger,
I fall
back dazzled at beholding myself all rosy red,
He was
like a cock who thought the sun He had
been born to the sun. I have
a horror of sunsets, The Sun
is a mass of fiery stone, This
was my country and it may yet be, Men
shut their doors against a setting sun. Timon of
Athens
Follow
thy fair sun, unhappy shadow. Thomas Campion
Shadows
are rare here. Dazzling and tremendous how
quick the sunrise would kill me, And if
we don't want our glory to be, Whatever may be in my mind,
And
when you envelop me Joy is
a light which devours itself, inexhaustibly;
When
the sun comes out, Even
the smallest of creatures Two bad
cheers for the small sun. Thomas Merton
Some
folks is born wid they feet on de sun
The
sun, which passeth through pollutions
Thus
the dream was transformed into a nightmare.
But
nothing we can ever do is diametric to the sun. John
Hay
It is
good enough just to sit still We are
pieces of the sun, We
really know our worth, Some
painters transform the sun into a yellow spot;
Red was
the sun’s most beautiful throne He has
an experience in which it appears to him
But
every sun sets, If not
to the sun, As on
the day that brought thee to this earth
This is
but an isle in the great sun |