Numismatics: ancient and ancient Roman coins

The fascination with numismatics is quite popular these days. Collectors call different reasons for their craving for old coins: this is their historical value, and nostalgia for the past, and childhood dreams of mysterious treasures. Such people are especially interested in antique coins, because they store images not only of rulers, but of whole epochs, grandiose events, and their diversity amazes imagination.

A bit of history

For the first time coins were made in the Middle Kingdom and India in the early 12th century. BC. E. But the turnover of this sign did not exceed the limits of these countries. Many years later, the Greeks began to mint coins of silver. And they became the used means of exchange and sale, having got first to the Middle East, and from there spreading across the contiguous countries.

This monetary system continued. Coins of the Roman Empire replaced the Greek, which served as a model for their creation. In its heyday Ancient Rome was an example of the highest civilization. With its disintegration, people were regressed, since many achievements were forgotten for centuries. A long period of coins of the ancient Romans acted as a standard element of the monetary system in Europe and Asia, like their predecessors, made by the Greeks.

Ancient coins

In the narrow sense, only the monetary symbols of Ancient Rome are referred to this category. However, in reality this is not so. It includes coins of all ancient peoples, including Persian, Israeli (Jewish) and Byzantine. Monetary signs of the antique period were minted from precious metals: bronze, brass, silver and gold. The material depended on the dignity of the coin, since it was they who determined its value. This rule was observed at all times and exists to this day. Ancient Roman coins were decorated with the seals of the ruling monarch. It was a guarantee of weight, fixing its value. Antique coins are extremely diverse, as new banknotes were issued with each successive change of ruler.

Bronze and brass coins

In the monetary system of Ancient Rome, metals such as bronze and brass (the old Aurichalk) played an important role. It was from them that monetary signs were minted. The first coin was made of bronze. Her weight at that time was measured in ounces. It was a copper ass, the mass of which was as much as 12 ounces (340 g). There were coins of lesser dignity:

• Semis - 170 gr.
• Triens - 113 gr.
• Quadrant - 85 gr.
• Sextans - 56 g.
• Ounce and ounce shares, weighed accordingly to the name.

Then the metal aurihalk (brass) appeared - more expensive, than bronze, an alloy of copper and zinc. From it minted such ancient Roman coins as sestertius (27.28 gr.), Duponium (13.64 gr.) And ass (54.59 gr.).

Gold and silver

Silver was minted by denarii, victorians, quinaria and sesterces. The largest of them at par (denarius) weighed about 5 grams, and the smallest - just over one gram. As a result of the reforms of 217 BC. E. Their mass decreased. Of gold, aureus were created, and after the reform of Constantine I in use included solid, semis and triens (names are arranged in descending order of denomination).

Today it is considered that the basic unit in the antique monetary systems was either a stater or a drachma. So, in the framework of the Agin system, silver stators (12-14.5 g) and drachmas (such an ancient Roman silver coin weighed as half a stator) were minted, and in the Miletus, the Phocian and Persian gold coins . It should be noted that the banknotes made of brass or copper, also counted with the help of these units. This custom was especially widespread in the times of Alexander the Great.

About fakes

There are two types of handicrafts. The part was created by counterfeiters of that time, while others are modern copies. In this section, we will talk about the latter, because only they lose in value for today. There are several ways that are suitable for self-checking:

1. To identify a substandard counterfeit it is enough to look at the photo in the catalog. Now fake ancient Roman coins are made for tourists and ordinary people who do not know anything about numismatics. Therefore, the similarity with the originals is rather insignificant.
2. Comparing the data in the directory, you can weigh and measure the coin. If the indicators are not written to the specified values, the conclusion is obvious.
3. In the days of Ancient Rome coins were not cast, but were minted. Therefore, money made on modern equipment can always be distinguished.
4. If there is a detachment of particles on the surface on the coin, it is genuine. It is impossible to forge this effect. It is caused by internal corrosion of impurities.
5. The presence of a stamping shine also speaks in favor of the specimen being tested.
6. Ancient Roman coins can be checked with a microscope. With a strong increase, surface corrosion, characteristic of the ligatures of that time, will be visible.
7. Comparison with the original is the best method, allowing to compare the impression and its smallest details.
8. Spectral analysis will help determine the sample and the composition of the ligature. If the results of the analysis of a dubious specimen and the original are the same, then we can conclude that the coins belong to the same time.

Of course, an ignorant person can hardly distinguish a fake. And in this case the best solution is to apply to an experienced numismatist.