Coin Collecting

Since ancient days, coins have been utilized as a primary method and medium for exchange. The entire economy concept stands on the foundation that is provided by coins and paper currency, though the history of coins is much deeper than paper versions of money. In most languages, the term currency and coin are often considered to be synonymous. The history of currency and coins throughout the ages has made for some truly interesting reading. The concept of numismatics is all about studying coins and collecting them. Many people that are into numismatics consider coin collecting to be collecting pieces of history.

There is a lot of debate within the study of numismatics as to when the world’s first coins were created. Some people believe that the Chinese, the Indians or the people of Lydia may have been responsible for first using coins as an exchange medium, though this is also largely debated. Lydian coins are often found to contain symbols of unique individuals rather than any form of an official seal, and therefore these coins are often perceived to be personal tokens rather than a medium for exchange among the civilization.

Historical evidence also seems to indicate that the individuals responsible for handing out these coins often hammered them into their own unique shapes. This means that there likely was not a structured economy during the period where these Lydian “coins” were crafted. In China and India, however, the symbols present on the coins were much more uniform in general, indicating that there was likely a strong and structured economical background. These coins can be viewed by the general population in Chinese and Indian museums, which is very beneficial for the study of numismatics and for collectors that want to see how coins have evolved over time and across the globe.

One of the popular subjects of study among numismatics is the materials that coins are crafted from. Coins are made from a wide variety of different types of metals including steel, iron, bronze, copper and zinc, and they have all been used for various purposes throughout the ages. The coins that were minted in China during the Maurya dynasty were crafted from iron and copper. In years earlier, coins were minted solely from bronze. Those coins are regarded as being the property of the country that they were minted in, and often are protected and considered to be national treasures.

Coins are not always minted for the pure purpose of being mediums of exchange. Bullion coins, for example, are made out of purely precious metals such as palladium, gold and platinum, and this is done to preserve the metal in a specific shape. The coins are never actually minted to be currency at all. There are other coins, such as commemorative coins, that are minted purely to be collector’s items. There are a wide variety of unique coins in the world, and numismatics is all about studying them for their rich history and purpose.

Photo Credits: woody1778a

Originally posted 2009-08-26 05:12:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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There are three different points in time that Ancient Greek coins are divided into. The first period of time for the history of ancient Greek coins is known as the Archaic period. This particular period of time expands from when coinage first appeared in the Greek World in 600 BCE until 480 BE which was when the Persian wars erupted. After this, the next period of time that existed was the Classical period for Greek coins, and this period endured until Alexander the Great appeared in 330 BC.

The third period is the Hellenistic period, which drew out until the Romans preoccupied the Greek world in the 1st century BCE. The Greek cities extended in order to create their own coins for additional cities under the rule of Rome. These coins were each completely handmade, and they depicted a wide variety of different scenes, buildings, figureheads and symbols.

All of the Ancient Greek coins were created by hand unlike how modern day coins are made. Ancient Greek coins were eventually invented in a kingdom known as Lydia, which is now known as Turkey, during 620 BCE. When the Ancient Greeks began to create Greek coins from the very start, these coins had a number of different figures, inscriptions and symbols that were specifically designed to exemplify the independence of the poleis.

Even though the Greeks were under the command of Hellenistic kings or autocrats, the Greeks were always generally independent in nature. Their coins were a great way for them to substantiate their independence throughout their history. In other words, Ancient Greek coins are a symbol of independence among a people that struggled with independence for many centuries. Ancient Greek coins are made up of historic pictures and symbols and are now perceived as being artistic, lending to the history of a true art. The examples of the oldest Greek coins are capable of including a lot of sanctified temples and buildings, and this permits individuals to understand how grand those buildings once were in Greek history and lore.

Greek coins, then, were a lot more than a simple system of commerce or a collection of carved or stamped metal. The purpose of Greek coins had so much more to do with independence and religious pride, meaning that they are extremely meaningful as history of art, and the history of a people that struggled for independence and flourished for many years despite being under the rule of others, including Hellenistic kings and the Romans. If you are looking for a type of collection that you can be proud to have in your possession, consider collecting Greek coins so that you can learn the history of a unique people and revel in the signs and symbols of their fight for independence. The more you learn about Greek coins, the better you will be able to benefit from collecting these unique coins.

Photo Credits: I likE plants!

Originally posted 2009-07-24 05:27:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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