Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Coin Chat
>
Coin without any number/figure?
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="lehmansterms, post: 2799543, member: 80804"]Ancient coins, even the token denominations which had no relationship to the values of precious metals, almost NEVER had marks of denomination. A few of the 1st century Roman issues of dupondius (= two asses) might carry an exergual mark "II" to mark them out as dupondii as opposed to those without, of similar size and design, which were asses. This practice was the exception, however - very seldom used and never the rule. Generally the as was copper and the dupondius was brass and the difference in metal color was what was used to tell them apart, being the same approximate size and weight, until the adoption of a radiate crown on the portrait of a man or a crescent moon behind the shoulders of a female to mark them out as double-denominations. There were a few other times that equivalents in other denominations were marked out, like the exergual "XXI" on antoniniani. It wasn't until the late 490's A.D. and the reforms of Anastasius that base metal coins bore, as a matter of course, a mark of denomination in Greek numerals. This practice died out after a few centuries and the world was back to unmarked denomination coins. Size, weight, apparent metal of alloy and general knowledge of which coin was of which value were the only factors necessary to discriminate between various denominations over the millennia - and until relatively modern times.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="lehmansterms, post: 2799543, member: 80804"]Ancient coins, even the token denominations which had no relationship to the values of precious metals, almost NEVER had marks of denomination. A few of the 1st century Roman issues of dupondius (= two asses) might carry an exergual mark "II" to mark them out as dupondii as opposed to those without, of similar size and design, which were asses. This practice was the exception, however - very seldom used and never the rule. Generally the as was copper and the dupondius was brass and the difference in metal color was what was used to tell them apart, being the same approximate size and weight, until the adoption of a radiate crown on the portrait of a man or a crescent moon behind the shoulders of a female to mark them out as double-denominations. There were a few other times that equivalents in other denominations were marked out, like the exergual "XXI" on antoniniani. It wasn't until the late 490's A.D. and the reforms of Anastasius that base metal coins bore, as a matter of course, a mark of denomination in Greek numerals. This practice died out after a few centuries and the world was back to unmarked denomination coins. Size, weight, apparent metal of alloy and general knowledge of which coin was of which value were the only factors necessary to discriminate between various denominations over the millennia - and until relatively modern times.[/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Coin Chat
>
Coin without any number/figure?
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...