Two Thousand Years of Ancient Coins
Coins
originated in Asia Minor about 650 bc, when symbols
guaranteeing weight and purity were first impressed
onto small pieces of
electrum, a naturally occurring alloy of gold and
silver. These first coins made commerce so
much easier that Greek and Phoenician cities
all around the Mediterranean
soon began
to issue their own coinage.
The first Greek coins bore the badges of the rulers and
city-states that issued them. During two thousand turbulent years these
devices evolved, as badges were
followed by a succession of
imposing and artistic portraits. Greek gods and
goddesses sacred to issuing cities were first portrayed. After the
conquests of Alexander the Great, religious images were replaced by those
of Hellenistic kings. As Rome absorbed the Hellenistic kingdoms, portraits of
Roman emperors appeared on
imperial Roman coins. The Byzantine Empire
continued for a thousand years after the fall of the West, during
which imperial portraits
were replaced by iconic depictions of Christ and
the saints. Persia meanwhile evolved a unique
numismatic style - Parthian
and Sasanian coins bear royal portraits and reverse types that are very different from those on Greek and Roman
issues, but no less fascinating.
Some collectors
specialize in ancient gold, while others seek particularly
interesting bronze issues. Topical collections such as ancient
bronze coins with horses are popular subjects.
Ancient Greek coins of the finest
style can be artistic masterpieces, and portraits on earlier Roman
Imperial issues are frequently majestic. The best examples of these, and
other particularly fine and rare specimens, are collected on our
Premier Coins
pages.
Portraits of many celebrities appear on ancient coins, and may be found
via our Celebrities
page.
Collectors
whose interests focus on Christianity or on ancient Jewish culture will find
examples relating to these interests, such as the Tribute Penny and
Widow's Mite, on our
Biblical Coins page. |
