About Ancient Coins

Ancient Greek Coins

Greek coins represent one of the most thrilling periods in history, and you lay claim to some of that glory when once you've acquired it. These coins have not only survived thousands of years, but they have survived with their superb details intact, allowing us to study them and dream. Where did the coin come from? When was it made? How did it get here? An ancient Alexander coin pendant, for example, is a study in art, history, and aesthetics - truly a timeless treasure. Hand-struck, each is an original, possessing its own variation in shape, size, design, and color. Indeed, an ancient Greek coin pendant is a stunning addition to any jewelry collection.

AncientAssets Greek coin pendants are made with coins that are among the rarest ever discovered, with some dating back more than 2,500 years. The term "ancient Greece" denotes a period in history that lasted about 900 years. Coins were introduced into its society around 690 BC, coinciding with the rise of the merchant class. Unlike today, when entire countries use the same money, ancient Greek coins represented individual cities, their patrons, and their economic power in a region of the world that was flourishing. From the Aegina "turtles" to the Athenian "owls," your purchase of these coins today continues that tradition of commerce, exchange, and assessed value.

Alexander the Great: (reign 336-323 BC) Coins minted during the great ruler's reign/lifetime include the standardized gold stater, silver tetradrachmas and drachmas, and bronze coins. The term "Alexander" refers to the silver coins, which feature a powerful combination: The head of Heracles on the obverse and a seated Zeus on the reverse. Alexander coin pendants are very impressive, elegant and never go out of style.
Athenian Owl: (c. 430-99 B.C.) The standard during its circulation, the Athenian Owl of Athens was known for its silver purity and was a major force in producing a stabilized world economy. Traders could use the Owl confidently due to the universal acceptance of its face value. Today, these Greek coins remain among the most coveted by collectors due to its beauty and place in the ancient world.
Boy on Dolphin: (c. 450-200 B.C.) Symbolic of the legend which explains the founding of Taras, the "Boy on Dolphin" coin was identifiable to all as being from this trading city. The most common design is that with the boy on a dolphin on the obverse and a rider on horseback on the reverse. The different versions of the horseback rider can help determine the time period, up until c. 200 BC.
Pegasus of Corinth: (c. 600-300 B.C.) The most famous of all coins that bore the likeness of mythical Pegasus, was the Corinthian silver stater, which weighed approximately eight grams. Along with Pegasus, the coins also featured Athena and Poseidon on its obverse and Athena on the reverse.
Aegina Turtle: (c. 650-350 BC) The Aeginite Turtles of the seafaring city Aegina were believed to be the world's first standardized currency, made of (almost) pure silver to keep values constant. During its height, it is estimated Aegina minted 10,000 Turtles each year for about 70 years. There are two different types of design for the obverse: A sea turtle prior to c. 450 BC and a land tortoise after c. 404 BC.
Sikyon Dove: (c. 500-150 B.C.) Emblematic of the artistic city of Sikyon , the Dove was minted in gold, silver and bronze. The most famous being the silver stater, which featured the dove on the front and fire-breathing chimera on the back, making for a dichotomous combo of peace and muscular strength.

Ancient Roman Coins

Ancient Rome was one of the history's mightiest empires, and Roman developments in art, literature, architecture, law, technology, and language continue to have a major influence on the world today. The coins that survive from that period help us relive the stories of emperors, powerful gods and goddesses, and uniquely Roman feats.

Roman emperor coins, with their many faces and symbols of power, will delight you every single time you find yourself glancing at them. It was common practice for a new emperor to commission coins with his own likeness; thus, there is a great variety of bronze and silver Roman coins representing emperors so powerful, their names and legends survive to this day.

AncientAssets is committed to offering you a selection of endlessly fascinating, high-quality, and affordable Roman coin jewelry.

Bronze Coins

Bronze - that foundation of precious metals - was the coin of the realm in ancient times. The earliest cast and minted coins were the bronzes of ancient Greece and Rome. They were the coins that changed hands in the marketplaces of Athens, Sparta, Rome, and Byzantium.

In nearly every culture that used metal coins, bronze indicated coins of lower denominations. The smallest known ancient coin, the Biblical widow's mite, was bronze. It's estimated that the widow's mite was enough to purchase grain to make daily bread.

While bronze coins were the most common coins used in the ancient world, it can be difficult to come by examples of bronze coins in excellent condition. Because they were traded and used the most, many bronze coins that were created are "lost" - literally dropped and ground into the dirt and subjected to the ravages of time. However, AncientAssets selects from a small percentage of ancient bronze coins that have survived in good condition.

Silver Coins

Silver coins were among the first coins ever minted, and ancient silver coins are among the most prized by collectors of ancient coins. The finest artisans in the ancient empires created the dies with which the coins were struck. The images on the heads of the coins are those of some of the most powerful leaders of the ancient world. Of course, these gorgeous discs of precious metal were more currency than art when they were in circulation thousands of years ago. A Roman soldier's salary ranged from 3 silver denarii a day to 25 silver denarii a month. A single denarius would buy enough grain to make bread for nearly a month.

Silver and gold coins were used for larger purchases and saw far less circulation than bronze coins. Silver coins were buried in jars or leather pouches that protected them from the elements and the ravages of the earth and air. Because of this, silver coins that have made the trip through time are much likelier to be in better condition than bronze coins, though there are fewer of them still in existence. Between their relative rarity and their better quality, ancient silver coins tend to have considerably more value to collectors than bronze coins.

Janus Head: (c. 240-44 B.C.) The Roman God of Gods
Roman Goddess: (c. 100 B.C.) Roma, the goddess who personified Rome.