Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 803113, member: 19463&quot;]I define modern as coins pressed or stamped on machines. Except for cast coins like Chinese cash, earlier coins were made by hitting dies with a hammer (&#039;struck&#039; coinage). The change over did not occur at the same time everywhere. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Ancient coins were those made before the Dark Ages. Again the Dark Ages was a pretty general worldwide phenomenon but did not hit at the same time everywhere. In China, it came more or less with the death of Wang Mang in the 1st century AD. Rome and Europe held out until around 500. The Persians, Islamic states and Central Asia all had setbacks into relative darkness due to Huns, Mongols or other invaders that make a convenient time to break eras. Generally there is a period when coinage seems to have played a smaller role in the enonomy that makes a good breaking point. Medieval is what came after ancients and before machine made coins. China held out the longest with their cast cash which are very similar in 1900 AD and 19 AD. To me the break between Ancient and medieval cash is more when they felt the need to mark reign names on the coins rather than just Wu Shu. Making a rule that holds well for all parts of the world is impossible so we don&#039;t take overlaps too seriously. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>An example of overlap of the two eras is Russia&#039;s Peter the Great who issued very medieval wire money and large rubles that seem very modern. Any beginning history student will tell you that Rome fell in 476AD but collectors usualy push the start of medieval (Byzantine) to 491 when Anastasius did his coinage reform or to some earlier date when there were Eastern and Western Roman Emperors. I prefer using the Anastasius breaking point but not everyone will agree.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This subject is touched upon in Robert Tye&#039;s new book <b>Early World Coin &amp; Early Weight Standards</b> (which I recommend for any collectors of ancient and medieval coins willing to admit that there are interesting places besides Europe and China - there are better books for specialists in those places). </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I only collect ancient and medieval coins and don&#039;t collect New World which is perhaps wrong since some of the Spanish Colonial &#039;Cobs&#039; appear to meet my above given medieval characteristics. Conversely I would be happy to own an Elizabeth I milled coin since it was a one shot experiment that did not take hold at that time and following reigns went on with hammering. All US coins are modern. Terms like these are conventions for convenience of primary school students who need something to memorize. At no point did someone blow a whistle and announce the era switch would occur in five minutes. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I have talked to collectors at coin club meetings who seriously considered &#039;ancient&#039; properly used for anything before they were born. So like he said, it depends on who you ask.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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