It's amazing those mint workers were able to engrave dies for a pieces of silver smaller than a pinky nail. Coins like that must have been easy to strike individually, but daunting to strike in vast quantities... the gods forbid anybody dropped one in their daily travels...
My favourite are the ptolemy bronze coins. They are large and very robust. Worth to make a video as the daily pocket money of Egyptian/Greek residents ;)
Very interesting lesson. I have some bronze coins of Greek cities (Leontioi, Metapontion, Termessos, Gela, Ephesos, Pantikapaion, Philomelion, Colophon...) and I have to admire their design. Even small denominations are works of art.
"It was 3 days of work." Well, most people didn't live in the cities, if they went shopping, I bet they bought a little more than a days worth of stuff in their transactions. Of course it makes buying small amounts of stuff harder, but there you could use barter with different things. Those Lydian coins are pretty bulky, wonder if those wore out faster.
I seem to recall that the Greeks kept their coins in their mouths when out shopping. Hard to believe, but that's what I was taught in my college course text book or supplemental text.
By any chance, do you know what was used in the eastern half of the Roman Empire? it’s my understanding that the eastern half in particular had a lot of Greek influence. I wonder if that included Greek coins in addition to the denarius.
Take a look at my video on "Roman Provincial Coinage" for the answer to that :) Yes, the Romans kept lots of the previously established monetary standards in place.
@ClassicalNumismatics not yet, I just got into the hobby and bought a couple of uncleaned lots. One off Nero coins and one off PCB currency on ebay. I got a cheap microscop and some distilled water. Hopefully, I can ID some of those maybe I have some fractionals in there 🤞
A tiny Obol from Mycalessos. Mycalessos coinage is actually somewhat scarce since it was sacked and ravaged by thrarcian mercenaries during the war of the Peloponessus. As a curiosity, those interested in this episode can read the famous "History of the Peloponessus war" by Thucydides, book VII, 29-30.
Am I correct in assuming that ancient peoples kept their "small change" in coin purses? That would probably be more secure than modern pockets, but I'll bet a lot of these tiny coins were still lost!
The urge to return to precious metals and just carry around a sack full of tiny coins. Fiat currencies are a scam, and they've been enslaving mankind for over a hundred years.
Considering how tiny and fragile they can be, its indeed a miracle it has survived in this condition! The very dark patina indicates it was likely lost in a dry climate. These are generally very solid and resistant.
There was a reasonably high urban population for ancient times, maybe up to 30%. These people mostly used coins. As for the rural population, it depended on how isolated they were and if they could access coins. Both the Greeks and the Romans were surprisingly monetized.
The coin comes from a pretty reliable source (Kuenker). At some point it must have had a layer of horn silver which has since then been cleaned, leaving the roughness on the surface you very reasonably point out. I think the coin is good, just a bit corroded :)
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Cool channel my friend..
It's amazing those mint workers were able to engrave dies for a pieces of silver smaller than a pinky nail. Coins like that must have been easy to strike individually, but daunting to strike in vast quantities... the gods forbid anybody dropped one in their daily travels...
My favourite are the ptolemy bronze coins. They are large and very robust. Worth to make a video as the daily pocket money of Egyptian/Greek residents ;)
These are super cool, I've shown a few in some previous videos, but I'll certainly explore the topic in the future :)
@@ClassicalNumismaticsPLEASE DO that would be an amazing episode
I have a 1/12 stater from Miletus. That’s my oldest coin and favorite Ancient Greek fraction silver coin!
Awesome! I find fractional currency just as impressive as large Tetradrachm; it’s incredible that they crammed so much detail on such a small flan
Very easy to understand and accessible for those getting into history. thank you for your interesting videos
Very interesting lesson. I have some bronze coins of Greek cities (Leontioi, Metapontion, Termessos, Gela, Ephesos, Pantikapaion, Philomelion, Colophon...) and I have to admire their design. Even small denominations are works of art.
Sweet hisyory lessons..
"It was 3 days of work." Well, most people didn't live in the cities, if they went shopping, I bet they bought a little more than a days worth of stuff in their transactions. Of course it makes buying small amounts of stuff harder, but there you could use barter with different things. Those Lydian coins are pretty bulky, wonder if those wore out faster.
That Seikilos epitaph background music!
Thank You very much for This new video !! 😊
I seem to recall that the Greeks kept their coins in their mouths when out shopping. Hard to believe, but that's what I was taught in my college course text book or supplemental text.
I think that's to do with the dead to pay for the river crossing
Cool vid. Leo
Very cool
By any chance, do you know what was used in the eastern half of the Roman Empire? it’s my understanding that the eastern half in particular had a lot of Greek influence. I wonder if that included Greek coins in addition to the denarius.
Take a look at my video on "Roman Provincial Coinage" for the answer to that :)
Yes, the Romans kept lots of the previously established monetary standards in place.
Love the tiny fractions! I have a small lineup of hemihalkous of Olbia, cute little things in 0.3-0.5g range
Great video, thanks!
Thanks leo.brillant 😊
very nice tiny pieces
Very neat! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it. Have you got any fractional greek coins yourself?
@ClassicalNumismatics not yet, I just got into the hobby and bought a couple of uncleaned lots. One off Nero coins and one off PCB currency on ebay. I got a cheap microscop and some distilled water. Hopefully, I can ID some of those maybe I have some fractionals in there 🤞
Brilliant work! Fortunately small bronze greek coins are abundant and affordable. I have a couple
A tiny Obol from Mycalessos. Mycalessos coinage is actually somewhat scarce since it was sacked and ravaged by thrarcian mercenaries during the war of the Peloponessus. As a curiosity, those interested in this episode can read the famous "History of the Peloponessus war" by Thucydides, book VII, 29-30.
Brilliant, thank you for the feedback!
Hello! Ive been watching ur vid for long time, Great video! I want to collect ancient coins like you.
Thank you! Its a very fun hobby, give it a try :)
Am I correct in assuming that ancient peoples kept their "small change" in coin purses? That would probably be more secure than modern pockets, but I'll bet a lot of these tiny coins were still lost!
Pockets likely didnt exist back then, so yes, they were most likely carried in small purses
The urge to return to precious metals and just carry around a sack full of tiny coins. Fiat currencies are a scam, and they've been enslaving mankind for over a hundred years.
Very interesting 😀!
Drooling for that Pitane. Those are super rare I. That condition.
Considering how tiny and fragile they can be, its indeed a miracle it has survived in this condition! The very dark patina indicates it was likely lost in a dry climate. These are generally very solid and resistant.
In ancient Greece how much of the economy was monetary and how much of the economy was barter?
There was a reasonably high urban population for ancient times, maybe up to 30%. These people mostly used coins. As for the rural population, it depended on how isolated they were and if they could access coins.
Both the Greeks and the Romans were surprisingly monetized.
@@ClassicalNumismatics Thank you.
Thank you
every time I watch your videos I like to play Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Love the coins and history!
its a wonder that those tiny coins mad it to our time
its for some 2300+ years
Nice owl!
do you have a store?
No I dont :)
Who do you trust to have authentic ones? I’ve seen ancient European coins on sites like eBay listed as being sold from China
❤
Great video, but the last coin shown, the Roman one, has a texture that looks almost sand-cast to me. Am I crazy?
The coin comes from a pretty reliable source (Kuenker). At some point it must have had a layer of horn silver which has since then been cleaned, leaving the roughness on the surface you very reasonably point out.
I think the coin is good, just a bit corroded :)
I think it's pitting from being in a saltwater environment. Please correct me.
@@ClassicalNumismatics Ok good to hear! Just curious now, what is horn silver?