AncientCoins
As Artistic Evidence
Coins of theAncient world give an intresting insight to the period they represent.However, establishing the date of the coin may causeproblems. Often Roman coinsare easier to date than Greek coins because they actually have the year of mint stamped on them. Undated coins are given aproximate dates by the names orevents present on them. Many timesthese approximate dates are more accurate than any other means because they areverified by other coins which have similar markings. Unfortunately, some of these dates have been discoveredinaccurate and thus the context of the coin changes. Modern scholars have begun reevaluating the old dates bycomparing the events depicted with new information. Carbon dating would give the age of the metal not the date ofthe striking of the coin and thus new techniques must be employed.
The study ofcoinage becomes important for a number of reasons.Coins are the only source of uninterrupted artistic representationsthroughout the early Greek world. Generallythere exist several coins representing the same motif, thus allowing for aclearer interpretation of what is represented. The coins also show aninsight to the beliefs and practices of the time by showing what was significantenough to the people to be depicted on their currency.To us this is a distinction held only by presidents and founding fathers.(RLC)
