From Persia to the Caucasus: Evolution of the Abbasi
Illustrated Specimen Details: Abbasi of Safavid Persia Example Specimen: 1 Abbasi, AH 1132 (1720) — Safavid Persia (Iran) Historical Context: This silver coin belongs to the era of Safavid Persia, one of the most powerful Irani…
Numismatic Guide to the Macuta: African Trade Currency
Illustrated Specimen Details: 4 Macutas of Portuguese Angola Example Specimen: 4 Macutas (20 Centavos), 1928 (Portuguese Angola) Authority and Design: This colonial issue from Portuguese Angola is a fascinating dual-denominatio…
Kufic Dirhem: The Medieval Silver Trade Coin of Eurasia
Illustrated Specimen Details: Abbasid Kufic Dirhem Example Specimen: Kufic dirhem, 803 (Abbasid Caliphate) Authority & Design: This high-purity silver dirhem was struck in 803 AD (AH 187) during the reign of Harun al-Rashi…
Borysthenes: Scythian River God and Olbian Coin
Illustrated Specimen Details: Borysthenes of Olbia Example Specimen: Borysthenes, 3rd century BC (Greek city-state Olbia) Authority and Design: Pontic Olbia (Ancient Greek "Ὀλβία Ποντική") was an ancient Greek city-st…
Evolution of the Nummus: Base Copper Unit of Byzantium
Illustrated Specimen Details: Byzantine 40 Nummi Example Specimen: 40 Nummi (Follis), 813-820 (Byzantine Empire) Authority & Design: This copper follis represents a value of 40 nummi and was struck under the authority of Em…
Medieval Armenian Coinage: The Copper Kardez of Cilicia
Illustrated Specimen Details: Copper Kardez Example Specimen: Kardez, 1226-1270 (Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia) Authority & Design: This medieval copper kardez was struck during the long and prosperous reign of King Hethum I …
Neugroschen: Silver Billon Coin of the Kingdom of Saxony
Illustrated Specimen Details: Silver Neugroschen Example Specimen: 2 neugroschen, 1863 (Kingdom of Saxony) Authority & Design: This silver billon coin was minted in 1863 during the reign of King John I (Johann) of Saxony (1…
Roman Semis: History of the Ancient Bronze Half-As Coin
Illustrated Specimen Details: Bronze Semis Example Specimen: Semis, 154-133 BC (City of Castulo, Hispania) Authority & Design: This bronze semis was minted in the ancient Iberian town of Castulo (Iberian "Kastilo"…
Prague Groschen: The Silver Coin of Medieval Bohemia
Illustrated Specimen Details: Prague Groschen Example Specimen: Prague groschen, 1378-1419 (Kingdom of Bohemia) Authority & Design: This silver groschen was minted during the reign of Wenceslaus IV (1378-1419). The obverse …
Tram (12th-14th c.): Silver Coin of Cilician Armenia
Illustrated Specimen Details: Silver Tram Example Specimen: Tram, 1198-1219 (Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia) Authority & Heraldry: The obverse features the king seated on a throne ornamented with lions, holding a mace with a c…