Antique Gold Coins of the World
Antique gold coins of the world are of special interest to collectors because of the history and potential value of the coins.
Antique Gold Coins of the World
Gold coins, because they were made of the precious metal, were quite literally worth their weight in gold in ancient times. Gold coins are one of the oldest types of money. Silver coins were first produced in 700 BC. Shortly after, the first coins made of gold were made by king Croesus of Lydia in 560 BC. Before this Croesus had made coins using electrum, which was a mixture of gold and silver that occurred naturally. In 546 BC King Croesus was captured by Persians, who then embraced the gold coin for their own use. Gold coins served as a primary source of money well into the 1900's.
Roman gold coins often pictured one of the Roman deities. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was a popular choice. Later coins depicted famous military leaders. Symbolic images, such as a shield to represent strength in battle, were common as well. The coins had pictures on both sides. The sides were referred to as obverse for the front and reverse for the back.
A Roman coin’s value was measured by the value of precious metal out of which it was made. There were no denominations, like we have dimes and quarters now. Sometimes coins would be made illegally that were not pure gold or silver. The inside of the coin would be made with a cheaper metal, and covered with a small coating of the precious metal. Storekeepers would make cuts into the middle of coins in order to make sure they were solid gold or silver. Other times dishonest individuals would shave some of the gold or silver off of a coin before trading it. In this manner, they were able to store up windfalls of silver and gold. This was also illegal.
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Antique gold coins tend to be costly, so focusing on collecting coins of just this type can be expensive. Gold coins of the Byzantine Empire tend to be the most reasonable in price. Modern gold coins are much more affordable but do not hold the same historical and artistic qualities of ancient specimens. Many people are interested in antique coins because of the story they tell. By studying them, you can tell where the coin came from, who was the ruler at the time, and what values were important to the people.
