ANCIENT COINS
What are ancient coins? According to Webster, ancient is the period before the middle ages. It goes on to define middle ages as the period in European history between 500 to 1500 A.D. According to these definitions, we will consider ancient coins to be those struck before 500 A.D.
There is some difference of opinion as to when the first coins were struck and by whom. There are some who believe the first coins were struck by Greeks. Others believe it was the Chinese.
Most believe the first coins ever made were struck in the
seventh century B.C. in the kingdom of Lydia which was located on the
Mediterranean coast of modern Turkey. Lydia at the time was possibly the richest
kingdom on earth, and its greatest king is still remembered today in the
expression "as rich as Croesus."
Ancient coins were struck by hundreds of different states and cities from that
time down to the fifth century A.D., or a period of over 1,000 years!
The earliest coins were made of electrum, an natural alloy of gold and silver. Soon after the coins were minted out of gold and silver. At that time coins were worth the value of the metallic content. Coins of a low enough value to allow for small everyday transactions were so tiny that eventually bronze coins were made with a value ratio of 16 ounces of bronze to 1 ounce of silver.
The early coins were one-sided with the image being an animal
(real or mythological), or gods and goddesses. It wasn't until circa 400
B.C. that coins were made with a portrait of a living person.
Although they are very old, ancient coins are not necessarily expensive.
Excellent quality Roman coins can be purchased for well under $10. Greek coins
are a little more. You can put together a nice collection for well under
$100 per coin.