Ancient coinage
The earliest metal currencies struck across the classical Mediterranean and Asia.
Inside this collection
Lydia
The Anatolian kingdom credited with creating the earliest electrum coins stamped with a lion.
Classical Greece
Arresting silver coins produced by independent city-states like Athens, Corinth, and Syracuse.
Roman Republic
Early bronze cast bars and silver denarii issued before the establishment of one-man rule.
Roman Empire
Imperial coinage bearing the realistic likenesses and titles of successive Roman emperors.
Byzantine Empire
Christian imperial coinage featuring frontal portraits of emperors, Christ, and the Virgin.
Ancient Persia
Gold darics and silver sigloi showing the Great King armed with a bow and spear.
Mauryan coinage
Punch-marked silver ingots stamped with animal and tree symbols in ancient India.
Ancient China
Cast bronze cowrie replicas, knife money, and spade money that preceded round cash.
Small details deserve
a closer reading.
We tell the stories behind coins with clear explanations, useful sources and a sense of discovery.
Our approach