Coins are (usually) round pieces of metal that are used as an agreed upon means of payment in the buying and selling of goods and services. The first coins were minted about 2,600 years ago and since then have played an important role in the development of human civilization. On top of the coins are usually figures of rulers and their names, dates and ethnic and religious symbols. In archaeology, coins are used as a central tool for dating and research resulting from circulation and deciphering the messages imprinted on them. Before the appearance of the coin, precious metals were used as a common means of payment as ingots, jewelry and silverware, and sometimes bore a stamp indicating their origin. The invention has significantly improved trade.

The first known coin was called “Electrum”, it originated in the late 7th century BC in the Greek city of Lydia. The coin was an alloy of gold and silver and bore the symbol of the ruler. The metal token became a coin after being struck by hand on a hammer that bore an imprint. The blow imprinted the imprint on the face of the coin. Another inscription found on the anvil stamped the back of the coin. The transition to silver and gold coins accelerated the spread of the coin throughout the Greek world and from there to the rest of the ancient world. After Alexander’s conquests, thousands of local imperial mints were spread throughout the ancient world that minted gold, silver and bronze coins. Transition to use Economically, the coins were used as propaganda tools. New coins announced the change of emperors, victories in battles and were even used in the Jewish revolts as a declarative tool to declare independence.

Bibliography

Casey, J. and Reece, R. (eds.) 1989. Coins and the Archaeologist. London.

Howgego, C. J. 1995. Ancient History from Coins. London.

Kemmers, F. and Myrberg, N. 2011. Rethinking Numismatics. The Archeology of Coins. Archaeological Dialogues 18 (1): 87–108.

Mashorer, 10th year 1998 (1997). Treasury of Jewish Coins. Jerusalem.