You are a Numismatist if you collect currency study currency Numismatics has several subdivisions: Coins (its subdivisions) Circulated singles sets Uncirculated singles sets Proof singles sets Commemoratives singles Circulated Uncirculated Proof sets Citculated Uncirculated Proof Notaphilly (its subdivisions): Paper Money (its subdivisions): Federal Notes Banknotes Treasury Notes Silver Certificates Gold Certificates Other Product Certificates Coins Rice Wine Demand Notes Fractional currency Script Scripophily (its subdivisions): Stocks Bonds Exunomia (its subdivisions): Tokens Medals Medallions Elongated Coins Encased Coins Badges Wooden Nickels Credit Cards So Called Dollars Bracteates Jetons What are Bracteates? They are not coins. Bracteates are thin metal coin-like pieces of jewelry created during the Period of the Great Migration in the southern countries of Scandinavia and Northern Germany. Maybe good luck charm would be a more appropiate description for they were considered magical or spiritual in nature (similar to runes or shamrocks). Most were composed of silver or gold, but a few surviving relics had met the strength of a coppersmith's or bronzesmith's hammer. As coinage became the instrument of trade and commerce, Bracteates (having an intrinsic value) were used as currency. Want to see a few Bracteates? (coinarchives.com photos): http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1082583&AucID=998&Lot=83&Val=bf8d99ab4682f8348a7aa3f6dcc5c2eb http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1082582&AucID=998&Lot=82&Val=dc3bcbb603ba9100e122e82222cd2099 http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1082586&AucID=998&Lot=86&Val=04b55d3d0be0f3895ca8cc811c2e4cff http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1082589&AucID=998&Lot=89&Val=3d4e31a4df1ffb68bfb2e32ea8663f35 http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1082590&AucID=998&Lot=90&Val=2fd1d9705bcabe5309d3a972c02b806c Trade Gold Dinar Bracteate - 6th Century A.D.: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1051129&AucID=974&Lot=1027&Val=ba1dcfd08d4d14b27615401e68f855bf Zurich, Switzerland - Early 1300s: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1079507&AucID=994&Lot=851&Val=f968ac93a58c962432c95b4706ce1009 http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1079510&AucID=994&Lot=744&Val=1987b16b9bb4bdc17b3c47b579b1da95 Hope you enjoyed seeing this early form of currency... Clinker
