The secret reason why I started collecting Greek coins...

So I could read my physics and math homework...



And to keep this legal, here my only two Greek coins (don't worry, I'm planning on getting more ):

 

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Hah, funny! I learned the Greek alphabet from studying math, actually. It's not that hard.

 

Oh yes, I almost forgot. I'm expected to be able to recognize the names of all the Greek houses on campus. Not that I plan to pledge Greek...

 

Good thing. Those guys don't know enough of the alphabet to count to 96 (Ϙ).
See table on
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_numerals
(I don't think there is a coin with a 900 on it so I have an excuse for not knowing that one in all its forms.)

 

Learned Greek alphabet (original, as well as later lower case), Greek numbers in a Fraternity at University. Learned Ancient Greek histories and mysticisms there also. Further reinforced that learning in math classes.

 

All ancient languages are Greek to me. Even this Indian coin is Greek to me (at least the obverse)

 

Talk to me after you have read Euclid's Elements in Greek . Notice how the numerals are used...



https://farside.ph.utexas.edu/books/Euclid/Euclid.html

 

After all these decades I am now halfway decent with upper case Greek. BUT, with lower case, darn! I have a heck of a time! Its one reason I find SNG Copenhagen so frustrating! Why on earth would they list all inscriptions lower case when on the coin they are in upper? Makes no sense to me.

 

The authors of SNG had no idea that their book would be read by people who were not raised like they were with a basic Classical education and the desire to learn whatever they might need to know starting well before they were in school. The part that always bothered me was I was told while growing up how much better I was than those children in other parts of the world --- you know, the ones that read the languages that I can't even be certain which side is up. Today my 14 y.o. grandson is making a choice on languages. He is not taking Greek. He is taking Java.

 

Without doubt those who complied SNG Cop had educations far above the average citizen of the time (their being scholars, they probably assumed only others like them would use the reference). Still, why use lower case when the coins only have upper case? Ah well.

Are we better off than others? Certainly for most of the world, but that is a matter of interpretation. My dad grew up in the 30's and 40's, but poor in Ireland. He died before I could ask most questions, but who knows what he did or did not learn. My mom, she was taught Latin in the 40's, but I certainly doubt she remembers any of it.

Me, I learned little in school. Not for a lack of trying, but nobody really cared. Most I know now was self taught.

 

Very cool coin! You may be right about my broadening my horizons. If it happens, it may very well be the Indo-Scythians.

 

Exactly! If current culture demanded you were educated in Classics as it did even a century ago, more of this would be second nature to us. Instead, knowing every twist of Smart Phones, Pokemon and a few dozen other things I don't understand marks the intelligent person of the up and coming crop. When I was a kid we knew all about the knights of king Arthur and fought each other with wooden swords (being careful not to hurt each other since we knew we were playing). We did not have Star Wars and Harry Potter. I do wonder if collecting hobbies may be so 'out' now that studying our coins will just be something else that the kids will find humorous about my generation.

 

and the value is zero

 

I'm a part of this generation, and even I don't understand all of it. Still am refusing to download Pokemon, even if I had a smartphone. I don't watch TV, so I am very behind on modern culture (which is a good thing?).

 

Correction. It is 42.

 

Ah..Got it. But, I suspect it is just imaginary

 

Ah yes! Reenacting the Crusades with acorns and trash can lid shields. Granted, we're Blessed that one of us didn't lose an eye.