:loud: One of the greatest influences on coinage in the world was the numismatics of Rome! About 211 B.C. during the Second Punic War, the Roman Republic struck its first Denarius fixing its value at 1/72 of a Roman Pound. Both these denominations (Denarius and Pound) influenced the coinage of most European countries, and other countries around the globe, but none as much as England. The earliest Roman Denarius photo I could find is this 145 B.C. Silver Denarius (Coin Archives): http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=232499&AucID=178&Lot=601 Here's a few Denarii (Denar, Denier) influenced coins (all courtesy of Coin Archives): Cologne: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=596371&AucID=433&Lot=23306 Armenia: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=592577&AucID=431&Lot=1359 Germany: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=600301&AucID=437&Lot=213 Bosnia: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=590638&AucID=430&Lot=1928 Bulgaria: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=590639&AucID=430&Lot=1929 Italy: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=590662&AucID=430&Lot=1952 Serbia: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=590708&AucID=430&Lot=1998 There are many more, but those revealed, thus far, should convince you of the Denarius' influence in Europe. Denarius influences elsewhere: Denar: Macedonia, Dinar: Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lubya, Serbia, Tunesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Yeman, and Sudan. Dinhero: Portugal Dinero: Spain Did you ever wonder why the Pence coins of England (later, Great Britain) were designated by the letter "d"? Right away, as the first coins of England were struck under the influence of the Roman Denarius, all multiple Pence coins were referred to by the moneyers as Denarii, written as 2d, 3d, 4d, 6d, etc. This connotation was not changed until February 15, 1971, the day British currency was decimalized. The "d" was replaced by a "p" since then. And now the Pound: British Commonwealth Members, including Australia and New Zealand British Overseas Territories Egypt Lebanon Nigeria Sudan Syria Do you know all of the original 13 American colonies (before uniting) based their coinage on the Pound including 3d, 6d and 12d (Shilling)? Hope you enjoyed... Clinker
If you want to go further, shilling is based off of the Roman solidus. Not as easy to draw the connections, unfortunately. Good post!
Also worth mentioning that the Latin word "libra" is why the British Pound uses an "L" as its symbol.
That "libra" is part of Charlemagne's coinage reform around 795: 1 libra = 20 solidi = 240 denarii. In French, 1 livre = 20 sous = 240 deniers. In German, 1 Pfund = 20 Schilling(e) = 240 Pfennig(e). In Germany, the "d" as an abbreviation of Pfennig http://www.decodeunicode.org/de/u+20B0 was in use until the previous century. Relatively common until some time between WW1 and WW2, I think. Christian
chrsild Hi, Christian! Thanks for reading and the addendums! I noticed that both examples of the Denarius influenced denominations broke down to 240 as well as the German Pfennig. Neat, huh? Clinker
Oh the designs of ancient coins have had a strong influence even on early 20th century American coins. Well the Greeks influenced those, now just like the crumbling Roman Empire we place our Emperor-Dead Presidents on coins.
scottishmomey: You're right! And it took us from 1776 to 1909 to do it against the will of our Forefathers! randygeki: THANKS for the link! Clinker
