Ancient History From Coins

Like other volumes in this series, Ancient History from Coins demystifies a specialism, introducing students (from first year upwards) to the techniques, methods, problems and advantages of using coins to do ancient history. Coins are a fertile source of information for the ancient historian; yet too often historians are uneasy about using them as evidence because of the special problems attaching to their interpretation. The world of numismatics is not always easy for the non-specialist to penetrate or understand with confidence. Dr Howgego describes and anlyses the main contributions the study of coins can make to ancient history, showing shows through numerous examples how the character, patterns and behaviour of coinage bear on major historical themes. Topics range from state finance and economic policy to imperial domination and political propaganda through coins types. The period covered by the book is from the invention of coinage (ca 600BC) to AD 400.

This book introduces students to the techniques, methods, problems & advantages of using coins to do ancient history. The author provides a history of coinage & shows how the character, patterns & behaviour of coinage bear on major historical themes.

This 1968 study examines how Rome used currency to inform direct or deceive public opinion and also considers the results of this exploitation.

A fascinating introduction to ancient coins and collecting that is both an art book and an initiation. Who has ever dreamed of taking a close look, or perhaps even handling - or, still better, actually owning - a priceless coin of the ancient world? Minted in electrum, gold, silver, or bronze, coins were once the booty of conquest, the substance of princely, royal, and imperial treasures, and are now the pride of the world's major museums. The collection illustrated and discussed in this book is a fine demonstration of what can be accomplished through individual interest, effort, and patience, plus an awareness that leaves room for spontaneous impulses when guided by adequate advice and documented counsel. The result is an accumulated heritage that can be bequeathed to future generations. The collector known as JDL has always been drawn to beauty and exemplarity, his choices have been guided by balance and harmony. Here he presents us with remarkable evidence of the genius of master engravers of the ancient world who, inspired by the muses, were the first to forge monetary art and techniques. The examples illustrated here also reflect another penchant of the man who collected them - a love of travel, a desire to explore the ancient world from one end to the other. The geographical scope of this collection adds further coherence to a set of coins that covers a thousand-year period starting at the very dawn of coinage in the sixth century BCE.

"Money may seem hopelessly mundane and culturally meaningless, but it has dominated--and documented--world history since the time of the ancient Greeks. This heavily illustrated book provides a spirited account of the first coinages and their living descendants in our pockets and purses. It explains how people from Jesus to The Beatles have used numismatics to explore the social, political, economic, and religious history of the world"--

Excerpt from A History of Ancient Coinage: 700-300 B. C I have been unable at present to continue this history into the Hellenistic age. The truth is that, in the case Of coins, as in the case of politics, religion, and all else, the problems of the Hellenistic age are not the same as those Of the autonomous age. We have kingdoms in the place of city-states. The question of coin standards becomes far simpler in consequence of the wide adoption of the Attic weight. But the question Of mints becomes infinitely more complex, and in fact is full Of difficulties at present insoluble, because the mint-cities seldom place their names on their money, more Often a monogram difficult of interpretation. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.