ATS1248 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Metal Detector, Aes Grave, Electrum
17 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
Coin a piece of metal (or rarely, of some other material) certified by a mark or marks upon it to be of definite exchange value, and issued by governmental authority to be used as money . All other ancient coins are struck from: gold/silver/copper sometimes alloyed with tin/zinc. Weight was critical in ancient coinage value of coin was intrinsic, so its cost bore a direct relationship to its weight and fineness. Obverse/head side usually bust or portrait. Reverse image of god/goddess, hero, animal/plant, building . Either side may have a legend ( something to be read") that describes/amplified the image. Part of the legend that names the issuing authority ethnic". Earliest coins no legends, the type probably was originally a sufficient badge to identify issuing authority, occupying almost all available space in the field. With the advent of varied types & coins with types on both faces necessary and possible to place a word/words on coins.
