The Beauty and Fascination of Ancient Coins
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- Опубликовано: 2 июн 2024
- Each Greek and Roman coin is a window into ancient history. This video uses a selection of especially intriguing coins to explore how numismatic evidence illuminates the classical world.
I'd like to thank Aaron Berk of Harlan J Berk Ltd. for sharing his coins and expertise. You can find his ancient coin podcast here on RUclips:
/ @coinman.ancient
I'd also like to thank Classical Numismatics for their generous assistance. You can find their channel here:
/ classicalnumismatics
Please consider supporting toldinstone on Patreon:
/ toldinstone
If you liked this video, you might also enjoy my book “Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants: Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Greeks and Romans.”
www.amazon.com/Naked-Statues-...
If you're so inclined, you can follow me elsewhere on the web:
/ toldinstone
/ toldinstone
/ 20993845.garrett_ryan
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:07 Early Greek coins
1:34 Athenian Tetradrachm
2:54 Dekadrachm of Syracuse
5:07 The Knossos Labyrinth coin
6:52 Stater of Alexander the Great
7:51 Early Roman coins
8:39 Denarius of Julius Caesar
9:54 The Julian Star denarius
10:59 Roman imperial coinage
11:38 Sestertius of Nero
13:02 Two aurei of Trajan
15:16 Denarius of Marcus Aurelius
16:52 Solidus of Theodosius II
18:14 Postscript
Thanks for watching!
What I love about gold coins is that they look identical to what ancient people would have seen/held because it's such an unreactive metal. Nearly every other artifact and building (excepting gems and glass) have rusted or decayed to the point where they're almost like a different object compared to what they once were.
Seeing metal detectorists or archaeologists unearth a gold object is really a magic experience. This very same object looked exactly the same thousands of years ago.
Its reason why gold is gold and acients know it also
that is true, but it means gold coins did not went through as much ancient hands as other metal coins from antique.
Is this not also nearly the case for silver, as well?
@@qboxer Silver is quite resistant, but its surface can tarnish all the way to black and some accretions can accumulate. Its easily reversible, and the coins look good afterwards, but requires some work
Another really fun video to be part of. Thanks for the invitation Garrett!
¿Esos aúreos y el sólido son tuyos🤤? Ahora mismo no recuerdo haberlos visto en el canal, por cierto, ¡felicidades por tu canal!
As always, you were a pleasure to work with. Thanks for contributing!
You should have forced some Bactrian coins in there!
I watched this on my TV instead of my phone. Seeing the coins on a giant screen made all the details incredible. Loved the collaboration. Treble the info. Thrice as interesting.
yepp. i first watched it with my phone, but because the video is so good, i rewatched with my tv. incredible the details as you said!
dat some crazy words u using
It blows my mind how intricate and beautifully carved some of these coins are.
They are not carved. They are stamped between too forms called dies. You literally hamming the coin into shape between the 2 dies.
@@christrumptastic3161 The coin itself might not be carved, but the dies are. Some carved that image, whether it was on the coin or not is irrelevant.
Yes and no. Some could be carved others case via a mold. I know because I have worked on those garbage coin dies you see on those TV commercials. Even now the US mint uses over 100 year old tech to make dies from a large sculpture relief.
That labyrinth coin is so cool.
I met Aaron and his dad at their shop in Chicago. I was just telling how much I liked ancient coins to one of the sellers and he brought me upstairs where I met Aaron. He gave a very nice tour of their office and explained the many antiques they also own. He really took a lot time explaining all his stories as a collector.
If you have time, you should visit their shop. Definitely the best collectors shop I have ever been!
It would be interesting to see how the dies were made and used to stamp out the coins. I read that very few ancient dies remain because they used them until the dies wore out..
I have a video on ancient coins manufacture, you might like it :)
Must have had good he’d tools and artists to do the engraving!
It’s crazy how much history is packed into such small pieces of metal. I’ve got a well preserved silver denarius of the Roman Emperor Trajan on the way. Can’t wait!
where can you get something like that?
How much
@@djaktube Google it?
I can
I literally have that exact same coin! Around the size of a dime or so. Circa 110 AD.
I think the most interesting coins in the Roman world are the ones minted with the Oscan language by the Italian allies during the social war
Me everytime toldinstone uploads: WOOO YEAH BABY, thats what I’m talking about!
Cheers to your profile picture!
@@Tapanitseini a fellow tintin fan?
I could never get enough of ancient coins!!! I have a few that I cherish!
Such beautiful work. I had no idea so many ancient coins had survived to this day.
It helps that we are still finding new one every day.
toldinstone? More like toldingold
Recently, one of my professors imparted an infectious enthusiasm for numismatics to my class in Near Eastern archaeology. The more I learn, the more I can appreciate it as the scintillant and historically salient study it truly is. Very fascinating - thank you so much!
and the coins were there... in fact, it's reasonably likely that a coin was held at one point by someone who at one point saw the king in the flesh, especially in places like Rome where the Emperor would sit at public games. I've seen two sitting US Presidents (in a large crowd and from a distance) and I've handled a lot of coins -same thing should be true then. If you're holding a coin of Trajan, it's likely a coin that was held at some point by someone who saw Trajan...
just a cool thought.
Aaron's presentation leaves a lot to be desired as history education. Talking about the coin from Knossos, he basically says "I dunno, some guy killed a monster or something" and goes on to detail how much money he could get for the coin. While holding it away from the light so we can't actually see the labyrinth design on the face. He doesn't seem to care that he's holding a physical link between the ancient Minoan culture and the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur that's existed for thousands of years... not unless it means that his customers will pay a premium. I think he needs a visit from one Dr. Henry Jones Jr. to angrily explain that this belongs in a museum. Even if no museum feels the need to add yet another example to its already overflowing collection, it's terribly crass that his main interest in these historical artifacts seems to mainly consist of how much money he can squeeze out of a collector.
EDIT: Wow, what a difference when Classical Numismatics pops up. Not a word about current values; no face on camera because we came to see the coins; coins which are well-lit and in focus on the video. And points like "hey, I have two coins from Trajan to show, because they both have detailed artwork that functions as propaganda to advertise different military victories" because, y'know, that's a history lesson about what Roman emperors did on a regular basis.
Im glad you liked the content!
Agree 100%
Agree also--he missed such an opportunity to get all spicy about Pasiphaë and the wooden cow.
also wtf is up with his mouth lol
This is so cool! Studying roman history you sometimes lose touch with reality, it almost becomes fictional, with these coins you realize that they travelled around in peoples pockets and you get a sense of the real history with the humanity. I also find it really cool that Theodosious II already had that Eastern Orthodox style all the way back in 400! I think that really sticks it to people who say the Eastern Roman Empire wasn't the Roman Empire
I love your videos. They're so interesting and informative - your pacing, tone, and choice of imagery all really work well together. I really appreciate that you keep your videos focused on the topic and you make the topic interesting by presenting its most interesting and peculiar aspects, rather than fluffing it up with fancy graphics and political commentary. Keep up the great work!
Thanks
Thank you! That's very generous.
Greco-bactrian coinage is awesome.
Fantastic video. It's incredible how much greeks and romans cared for beauty in their coins
This was super interesting content, I'd love to learn more about the economy of the ancient world!
Whoa, three of my favorite channels and people all coming together at once!!!!
Thanks for that tutorial on ancient coins. As a lifelong coin collector of American coins I found it fascinating.
interesting that dinero, from denarius, still means "money" in Spanish today, and the currency of Yugoslavia was called the dinar. In the old French money, sou came from solidus.
Oh wow. I speak Spanish but hadn't put that two and two together before. That's fascinating
Soldier Comes from soldi that means money in italian
Excellent, interesting presentation! I like the way you are incorporating others into your videos. It adds a lot.
Maneco64 brought me here. so happy to learn more about ancient history & coins.
Thank you for making a video about ancient coins.I always admired Greek coins. That Syracuse Coin with the dolphin is known as one of the prettiest coin from classical times. I would love to have one but i know they are extremely rare and thus expensive
I really am enjoying this coin series
The detailed art and carving on these coins are remarkable, given the time. Nice video.
SOOO glad I found your channel through North02! I've binged watched all of your videos and eagerly click each new video you post as soon as you post it
Welcome! 👋
Nice vid. Got a coin show I’m attending in a few days. Looking forward to the few classical sellers they usually have. Thought it would be great to work towards a coin for each Roman Emperor.
Mini masterpieces indeed. This was crazy good. Dang.
amazing vid per usual doctor!
I love ancient coins. Awesome video. Subscribed
I have the Nero/Temple ofJanus coin, so I'm pumped.
It's in very fine condition too.
I also have a very rare Caligula coin that is extremely thick and nobody ever talks about it. It's my favorite coin.
I have a septiminius Severus pentassarion capta arabia coin ...never going to sell IT...
Such a great video, so fascinating
Fascinating history revealed in those coins!
Awesome way to learn history. Great video.
Amazing as always.
I'm surprised you passed over Domitian, I've always heard his coins were some of the best of the early imperial period
His coins are spectacular, but its really a matter of personal taste. The ancient world had tons of incredibly talented engravers, and styles are as diverse as it can get.
Coincidentally, I have a Domitian denarius, though it was minted before he became Emporer--_princeps iuventutis_ is the title on the reverse.
Edit: Corrected misspelled Latin.
Fantastic post. Thank you.
2nd guest really knew how to show those coins off. My goodness. I gasped lol
Really enjoyed this video
Maybe that Lydian coin was one that filled the pockets of Pericles’ forefather as he raided the treasury of Croesus. And perhaps the Syracusan coin was in the pocket of Damocles as he complimented the tyrants good luck. Very evocative
The later Roman coins give me similar thoughts. The average people holding those coins first needed to see their emperor as a great conqueror; then as a wise and benevolent administrator; then finally as a protector against the barbarian hordes.
This was a great video. Thanks for sharing.
Excellent video, very interesting.
nice video, very informative.
Beautiful craftsmanship
Fantastic video as always , what I wonder is how these coins were made ? The engravings and metal works ,etc... Seem so difficult for the time. Much less minting tens and hundreds of millions!!
There are a lot of resources online about that. Basically the dies are hand carved, as mirror images, and then the blank coin (flan) is heated and placed between the dies and struck with a hammer.
Great vid buddy keep it up!
This is without a doubt one of your best videos. I love all the topics and tid bits of history here. One thing I didn't like though was the volume being different for each of the three speakers. Turning up and then down and then up. It would be wonderful if you could equalize the volume. Please more videos like this with coins and economy. Thank you
Great content, thank you.
Just got your book for my birthday! I’m Excited to read it.
Super interesting video.
very interesting thank you
Excellent video! 😊
fantastic video
That king is wearing a very funny hat/helmet -on the coin from the Greek-bactrian kingdom.
i first watched it with my phone, but because the video is so good, i rewatched with my tv. incredible the details. always keep in mind how old these coins are. imagine ignorants who would find gold coins and would melted them down into bars!
I know that you’re talking about large governments and corporations doing this but also keep in mind that a lot of governments don’t allow you to keep ancient coins you find not are you compensated for giving them to the state(if you ever think of declaring them). It really does suck
Big fan of your videos
"The Beauty and Fascination of Ancient Coins but it's just Aaron Berk's breath"
Would have loved to have seen a close up of the coins in his hand. Great video.
Fascinating stuff! It would be neat to buy a couple of the more common Roman coins just to hold a bit of history in my hand.
You should!
Do it. Collecting ancients doesn’t have to be expensive. I started a few years ago, and have a few hundred eclectic ancients and Middle Ages coins now. Tangible history.
Nice to see Chicago’s Temple building on YT.
Super cool.I'm into the Roman coins right now!
Amazing how these coins will still be relevant 2000 years from now.
Ancient coins have been collected at least since the 1700s, and I suspect they will still be highly valued for the next few hundred years if not more.
Those coins could nearly be used today. Very neat, very well-made.
Your channel is is fantastic
Some of my most favorite coins are from the original punic Carthage, some designs like Tanit and the horse are so simple but rare remnants of a destroyed civilization that once completed with the Roman Republic. Had they won the Punic Wars, history as we know would be entirely different.
RUclips: Toldinstone posted a video today.
Me: Today is a good day!
Thanks!
PACKED with some fantastic coins AND educational as well ! Where else can you see some of these very rare coins. If you want it, Aaron Berk HAS IT !
Yeah, and it's pretty clear that he's interested in selling it to you. His presentation showed a lot more excitement talking about the potential sales value of the coins, rather than any interest in what they can tell us historically.
0:19 it's so CRISP!
That gold Eucratides is amazing.
Quality!
Great video, and amazing coins! Although the thumbnail made me expect some hellenistic coins as well
Look at that fly headgear
Ancient Roman coins are so cool.
Pellicula optima est!! Wow, this brings back memories! I worked for H.J. Berk in Chicago in the 80s! The 1st ancient object I ever bought was a drachma of Alexander the Great. I’m still a huge fan of coins from Sicily :)
Have this drachma also
You're making me want to own some ancient coins
A lot of them are totally affordable for an average person!
What a superb offering From told in stone! I loved getting HJB catalogs in the early 2000’s and actually having a chance at some very lovely pieces- back then a high end Perseus Tetradrachm might go for $2000. now GOOD LUCK 🍀 ever increasing sellers fees and the lower quality on offer, compressing the market into elite and super elite or for everyone else bulk non appreciable middle of the road examples of lesser rarity.
Blame people like Aaron in the video. Notice how he was more interested in getting his face in focus than he was in getting good lighting on the face of the coin? And when he displays the coin from Knossos, there's no marvel that he's holding evidence that ancient Minoans truly believed in Thesesus killing the Minotaur in the Labyrinth. His comment is basically "there's a maze on the back where some guy killed a monster or something, now let me tell you what people will pay me for this coin". It's people like him that Indiana Jones needs to constantly be reminding, "that belongs in a museum".
I love your content man. I wish to hold one of these coins one day
You should get a Roman coin, many are very affordable. A lot of the ones in the video are very expensive... but there are a lot of affordable ancient coins out there!!!
I have a few videos about collecting ancient coins on a budget and even a video about a small collection you could possibly build for around twenty bucks.
@@markp44288 nice ill check it
I went to Harlan J. Berk years ago to buy some approx. 2,000 year old coins for inexpensive novelty Christmas presents (minted around the time of Christ). They had a pile of these coins and let me spend time making my selection. Base metals and poor condition, but still very interesting from a historical viewpoint.
Awesome
"That's a moray!" from your very interesting book I am reading. Dean Martin would have been proud of the pun.
I'm more interested in the coins of the Hellenistic kings myself, but this is an interesting watch nonetheless. It's really impressive how much detail they managed to fit onto those tiny coins.
It’s worth visiting Harlan’s shop if u live near. Fantastic place
I have a portrait coin of Julius Caesar with the letters CAES DICT PERPETUO inscribed around it - Caesar, Dictator for life. I can only imagine what the people of Rome must have thought when they saw those coins, and whether they understood that the Republic was gone, and now they were subjects and not really citizens any more.
After all these videos on currency I really need to get myself some coins oh my
yepp, but beware of modern made fake coins!
I just made my first purchase after watching this series lol
@@ingobernoble2678 cool! what is seen on the reverse and avers?
it's nice coins👍
I find it impressive that there is so much detail on these coins given that much of these are about the size of an adults thumbnail and were made ~2500 - ~1500 years ago. I would like to see how these were pressed and how the dies were made.
Great video! I always wondered why are ancient coins almost always far from round, is it just from use or were they made that way?
Usually, they were just made that way - the blanks on which ancient coins were struck were almost never perfectly round.
And if they were ever round to begin with, there's always the possibility that an ancient scammer was snipping little slivers of precious metal off the edges of their coins.
@@toldinstone Thank you for answering!
Hey, look how very Julius Caesar is wearing his laurel crown in a very different way from what we know from the movies!
It looks more like a hairband this way. 08:40
Told in metal, today.
The ancients must have had magnifying lenses in order to cut those dies and make those coins. They are so detailed. That is the only way. Those coins could have been made.
Wow,, those were some awesome coins! I'll stick to the cheap ones I can afford down here in NZ
Neato!!!
beautiful Syracuse coins
Too beauty.
Can you make a video about how ancient coins were made?
You might like my channel, I have a video touching this subject :)
I assume gold/silver ingots are melted down into something similar to sheet metal today and then the rounds are hammered out with a punch the same diameter as the coins. A hammer and anvil would flatten the round back out. A file can smooth roughness. The video mentions what happens after that to give the coin an imprint.