Luther College Greek and Roman Numismatics

Luther College Greek and Roman Numismatics

The study of coins, called numismatics, has had a great impact on historical studies. Researching the distinctive features of coins such as inscriptions, metal composition, and depicted images are excellent ways of learning more about a particular culture. Numismatics plays a significant role in understanding the specifics of Greek and Roman culture- the two civilizations that have had the most influence on modern coinage. The origin of the word numismatics comes from the Greek word numos, which means "current coin". The Latin word for money, pecunia, comes from the word, pecus, meaning "cattle", which brings an interesting correlation that the need for a standardized system of currency first arose out of the trading of cattle for any desired items.

Glossary of Terms

Greek Numismatics
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The origin of Greek coinage is attributed to the Greek-speaking people called the Lydians in the 7th century B.C.E., who were located on the western side of Asia Minor or modern-day Turkey. As soon as metals became popular items to use for currency, the first type of metal used was electrum- an alloy of silver and gold found in nature or created in a mint. Three reasons why the Greeks were able to invent coinage are that the materials used were readily available in nature, more efficient to use in trade, and easily incised with information. One of the first uses of Greek coinage was used for paying mercenary soldiers. In the early stages of currency, only large amounts could be paid, and smaller amounts still had to paid by previous methods. The onkia- the smallest value for a coin, which was developed in the 5th century B.C.E., was more efficient to use by the populace.

Individual cities were responsible for their own minting practices. Weights for the drachma and other Greek coins never were totally uniform from city to city even though they had the same names for the different values of coins. Currency did make trade easier, but a certain level of complication arose when a trader from Athens might encounter a trader from Sicily. Each city's coinage could be recognized by certain unique symbols and images; for example Athens was represented by an owl, Corinth by a horse, and Syracuse by dolphins.

Roman/Byzantine Numismatics
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The origin of Roman Coinage most likely began in the 5th century B.C. with the use of copper or bronze in the denomination of Aes, a mixture of copper or bronze. Romans credit their 5th king, Servius Tullius, with its development. Roman currency was first developed after a long association with cattle trading, where actual cattle was used as currency before being replaced by metal currency. Although in close proximity to the Greeks and being important trading partners, the Romans developed coinage relatively late. When the use of coinage became more prevalent, individual cities such as Syracuse and Rome minted their own coins, but as the Roman Empire formed, the emperors eventually moved all mints to Rome. With this shift to the foremost political and socio-economic center and the perfecting of minting techniques, the Roman empire was able to use its currency as a unifying force. The usage of modern currency traces its beginnings to Roman civilization.

Roman numismatic history is particularly interesting because the styles and kinds of coins change with the reign of different emperors. Each emperor had coins that carried his image and the god(s) that he worshipped. The emperor also directed the minting efforts, which included how much value any certain denomination would have and how many coins were allowed to be struck. One of the reformers in the history of Roman coinage was Diocletian, who increased the amount of coinage minted and he regularized the different values of denominations to a greater degree than other emperors. A possible reason why the Luther College collection has a greater percentage of Diocletian coins than others coins could be due to the fact that Diocletian ordered so many coins to be minted during his time in power.

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