Frank Zappa and his parents, Francis and Rosemarie, in his Los Angeles home in 1970. Photo by John Olson for a LIFE Magazine photo story published in the September 24, 1971 issue, which featured rock stars posing with their parents.

2400 year old Scythian leather made of human skin confirming what was for centuries thought to be an exaggeration from Greek historian Herodotus... For centuries, the writings of Herodotus were treated with caution by historians. His descriptions of distant cultures were often dismissed as exaggerated or symbolic rather than literal. Among his most unsettling claims was that the Scythians, a nomadic people of the Eurasian steppe, sometimes flayed the skin of enemies and used it to make functional items such as quivers, cloaks, or leather coverings. Modern archaeology has confirmed that at least some of these accounts were disturbingly accurate. Scientific analysis of several Scythian leather artifacts dated to around 400 BCE has shown that they were indeed made from human skin. Using protein sequencing and microscopic examination, researchers were able to distinguish human dermal tissue from animal hides, ending a long standing debate over whether Herodotus had embellished his stories for dramatic effect. The Scythians were known for their warrior culture, mobility, and ritualized violence, especially in the context of warfare and victory over enemies. Turning human skin into leather was not everyday practice but appears to have been symbolic, tied to power, intimidation, and status. What once sounded like ancient shock value is now understood as a grim but real aspect of Scythian life. The scientific confirmation came from modern biomolecular techniques that can identify species even when DNA is too degraded to survive, allowing researchers to analyze skin artifacts more than two millennia old. #archaeohistories

So, in absence of any evidence, historians near universally and arbitrarily chose to believe Herodotus made it up, until there was irrefutable evidence to the contrary, and then they claim they’re clever for learning it’s true? What else are historians choosing not to believe???

1 Stiver copper coin dated 1815, minted for the British colony of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) for those who like funky elephants on coins. Portrait of George III on the obverse. An elephant, value, denomination and date on reverse. Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London #coins #history

If anyone knows who engraved this coin, please share.

For #TokenTuesday, here is a ferry token from Sweden, with an unusual value. Let's visit "The Venice of the North" in today's post: coinofnote.com/sweden-45-ore… #Ferry #Ferries #History #Numismatics #Exonumia #Token #Tokens

I need to work on the next newsletter soon, but first, a reminder about this fortnight's #MysteryCoin - it is a small round silver-coloured coin with "50" in a striped square, CENTAVOS below & "50" in small braille dots below that.  Where / when might it be from? #Numismatics

On this day in 1554 São Paulo, capital of Brazil, was founded by Jesuit priests. Here is a 50 Centavos coin, from 1970, showing one of the country's biggest industries: shipping: coinofnote.com/1970-brazil-5… #OnThisDay #numismatics #SaturdayNightCoinShow

So many angry blacks in the replies 😂

how is me getting engagement hurting me exactly?

The murderer was: American Raised in Texas Army Vet WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO HATE!?!??!

This is exactly why just being born here or serving here doesnt make you an american, we need a stronger standard for who we refer to as americans.

BREAKING: In a stunning leak, emails from Kamala Harris' campaign manager to the full campaign staff are warning they will fire anyone who talks to the press. There is panic inside the Kamala campaign.