Ancient Coin Project
Money Money=pecunia in Latin pecus, pecoris, n. Herd, cattle, beast=pecus or pecoris in Latin
Animals and Products as Forms of Money Advantages? Disadvantages?
The Making of a Coin: ---authority to issue and guarantee coin’s worth ---possession of metal ---ability to refine metal to desired purity ---tools/techniques to fabricate coin from metal
Possession of Metal
A Little Coining History Juno Moneta Roman goddess of the mint ---a temple to Juno Moneta was dedicated on the citadel of Rome In 344 B.C. ---an adjoining building contained the mint of Roman state.
The Making of a Coin: Mints in the Roman Empire
The Minting of Roman Coins ---casting in a mold ---striking
Cast Bronze Coinage: 5th c.- mid 2nd c. BCE 1. Aes rude, central Italy, 3rd c. 2. AE dolphin money, Olbia, 5-4th c. 3. Aes grave, wheel coins http://dougsmith.ancients.info/ 4. Tooth-shaped, Akragas, Sicily, 5th c. 5. Arrow or leaf ,6th-5th c.
Making a Roman Coin ancient coin mold funnel-shaped bronze for pouring liquid metal into cast
The Making of a Coin: Tools/techniques to fabricate coin from metal ---flan ---dies (obverse & reverse) ---tongs ---striking process ---coin rotation Medieval Striking Rig (but set up is similar to a Roman rig)
Display, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Much Slave Labor Required Celatores (signatores) = die engravers cut master die from which working dies were made; dies lasted for 10,000 – 50,000 strikes Suppostores = “placers” Malleatores = “strikers”
Dies Byzantine die Islamic die Byzantine coin
Forgers’ Dies 1-Sestertius 2-Mark Antony 3-Republican
How It’s Made To give you an idea on how ancient coins were made.
Coin Denominations Roman denominations during the Republic
What the information stood for
The Kentucky Quarter What similarities and differences do you see with ancient coins?
COUNTERFEITING Fouree: the coating of a copper coin with a silver wash. Serrated Edges: perhaps used to prove coin was not a fouree and edges not shaved
Now….Create your own coin STEP 1: roughly design the two possible sides of your coin (min. 4 diff. designs.) and collect info about your coin and the designs. STEP 2: sketch the two sides of your coin and write a description about it. STEP 3: finalize your coins design and edit your description. STEP 4: create a colorful display of your coin with a typed description. STEP 5: create physical version of your coin.
Just to give you an idea Samples of Roman Coins This video could give you a good idea of what you want to put on your coin. Convert to ancient Roman year system. Convert to Roman numerals