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Of the many traditions we have inherited from the ancient Greeks, the use of coins should rank as one of the most important. From its first appearance in the region of Lydia (western Turkey) in the late-17th century BC, coinage gradually spread throughout the Greek world, and the history of the ancient Greeks is reflected in its evolution. Designs on Greek coins include the badges of city-states, portraits of rulers, images of Greek gods, scenes from myths and objects of daily life, and are often works of art in themselves. The dies, carved by craftsmen, sometimes bear the name or initials of the mint official responsible for their issue, and the coins might have circulated in trade, been used as gifts or dedications, or hoarded as valuables.
The development and use of coinage in the Greek world is surveyed in this book from its introduction in the 7th century BC to the late Hellenistic period. Coins can illuminate many facets of history and here the focus is on the reasons why they were circulated and how they were used. As a result, there is a wealth of information that has been gathered in one place for the first time. An opening chapter introduces the study of Greek coins, outlining the development of modern methods of research. This is followed by chapters discussing the invention of coinage and its spread to all parts of the Greek world. Coinage production and design and the role of coins in the life of people are then discussed, followed by chapters on the Classical period, Alexander the Great and the late Hellenistic world. As well as being a succint and readable account for students and collectors of coins, all those interested in the ancient world should find this a fresh and stimulating source of information.
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A large gap exists in the literature of ancient numismatics between general works intended for collectors and highly specialized studies addressed to numismatists. Indeed, there is hardly anything produced by knowledgeable numismatists that is easily accessible to the academic community at large or the interested lay reader. The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage will fill this gap by providing a systematic overview of the major coinages of the classical world. The Handbook begins with a general introduction by volume editor William E. Metcalf followed by an article establishing the history and role of scientific analysis in ancient numismatics. The subsequent thirty-two chapters, al...
This catalogue is unique in providing the collector with the only comprehensive and authoritative guide devoted specifically to the local coinages of the Roman Empire, undoubtedly the most neglected series in the whole of ancient classical numismatics. Greek Imperial coins span more than three centuries from Augustus to Diocletian, and were issued at over six hundred mints from Spain to Mesopotamia.