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The Importance of the Lydian Stater as the World's First Coin
The Lydian Stater was the official coin of the Lydian Empire, introduced before the kingdom fell to the Persian Empire. The earliest staters are believed to date to around the second half of the 7th century BCE, during the reign of King Alyattes...
Interview
Interview: When Money Talks by Frank Holt
Join World History Encyclopedia as they talk to Frank Holt about his new book When Money Talks: A History of Coins and Numismatics published by Oxford University Press. Kelly (WHE): Thank you so much for joining me today. Do you want...
Definition
Numismatics
Numismatics the study of coinage, and is a wonderfully useful tool in the archaeologist's and historian's toolbox. One of the best things for an archaeologist to find while digging is a coin. The reason is simple; it can instantly provide...
Definition
Roman Coinage
Roman coins were first produced in the late 4th century BCE in Italy and continued to be minted for another eight centuries across the empire. Denominations and values more or less constantly changed but certain types such as the sestertii...
Definition
Byzantine Coinage
The coinage of the Byzantine Empire continued that of its more ancient predecessors and functioned as a convenient method of payment for goods and services, especially to soldiers and officials, and as a means for people to pay their taxes...
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Celtic Coin Die & Gold Coin
A Celtic coin die and gold coin showing a horse design from Bredgar, Kent, England. 2nd century BCE. (British Museum, London)
Article
Follow the Money. The Coinage of Later Imperial Rome: A Reflection of Economic Stress and Decline
Unlike the practice of professional numismatists, I prefer to see the “big picture”. So, my entire Roman coin collection, all 250 pieces, from Julius Caesar to Valentinian III is laid out on a single pane of glass in a cabinet, in chronological...
Image
5th Century BCE Demareteion Coin
An illustration of the so-called Demaretéion is a silver coin of ancient Syracuse (weighing around 43 g) rather rare and worth 10 drachmas. It is also known as a pentekontalitron because it was equivalent to 50 litrae (the litra was a silver...
Definition
Ancient Korean Coinage
The coinage of ancient Korea (pre-13th century CE) first employed Chinese coins, known locally as the oshuchon. Korean rulers began minting their own metal coins from the late 10th century CE, first in copper and iron, and later in bronze...
Article
Colonial American Currency
Colonial American currency was a work in progress from the time of the earliest English settlements of the 1600s until the United States of America minted its own money in 1783. The monetary system was far from standardized, and trade within...