Ningluxuan: The history and status quo of European classical coins collection (1)

Author:Music club Time:2022.08.02

The history and current situation of European classical coin collection (1)

Ning Luxuan Wang Yi

In recent years, more and more friends in China have begun to collect classical European currency, and Europeans have been in classical coins for hundreds of years. This article introduces the history and status quo of European classical coin collection. The data in the article mostly come from some English materials, and combined with their own years of insight and experience in the market.

First, clear the concept, "European Classical Coins" are classical coins in European and American, including ancient Greek, ancient Roman and Byzantine. Why does the European and American coin industry refer to these three periods of currency? Because they regard ancient Greek Roman art as "classical art". Byzantine is politically continued by the Roman Empire. It is a combination of cultural and Rome in culture, so it can also barely return to classics. Other European currencies, such as the Middle Ages of Europe after Western Rome's demise, are not the category of classical currencies. Below is an example of three European classical coins.

The youth silver coin riding a dolphin, 272- 235 BC 235 BC, was issued by the ancient Greek Talenon City State. This place is the current Paranoto in the southern port of Italy.

The "Elephant Step Snake" silver coin issued by the ancient Roman Caesar was issued in 49-48 BC. At that time, Caesar was fighting with Pompeii. When crossing the Roman Roman city to enter the Roman City, Caesar issued this full full of this one. Political coins showed: "Caesar's enemy Pompeii was crushed." At the foot of the elephant is Caesar's name "Caesar".

The Byzantine Emperor Arnasteusus I of the Emperor Arnasteusi I was issued in 491-518 AD. In 498 AD, Arnasteusus I carried out a currency system to make a rich copper coin with Greek numbers as the face value. Since then, the coin industry has begun to be the Byzantine coin in 498 AD.

1. Before the Renaissance-the beginning of coin collection

Ancient Greece and ancient Romans attached great importance to the design of coins, high reliefs, multi -inscriptions, fine carving models, and rich themes. Therefore, at the time, some people had collected coins as souvenirs or decorations. Greek philosopher Aristotle described coins from distant islands in the book. The first emperor's house of Rome often presented coins from exotic to friends. Niaoya has unearthed an ancient Greek silver coin cellar, and none of the 114 four -Draque horse silver coins contained in it. From more than 50 different city -state or countries, it can be speculated that it is deliberately collected. From ancient Rome to the Middle Ages, classical coins are often inlaid to jewelry and utensils, which can also be regarded as a practical collection. The picture below is a golden plate inlaid with the ancient Roman Orejin.

In the early 14th century of the Renaissance, some nobles and scholars began to revisit the ancient Greek Roman culture that had been forgotten for hundreds of years. They collected antiquities and ancient coins at that time. Coin collection and research. According to reports, a Italian businessman named Cyriac D ’Ancona regularly traveled to Greece and Italy, looking for ancient coins for customers in Florence and Venice. He can be regarded as the ancestor of the "coin dealer".

In the middle of the 15th century, the collection of ancient coins of many nobles and wealthy merchants was quite large, including the House of SFORZA of Milan, the well -known House of Medici, and even several pings. Duke Du Berry, the younger brother of Fazhang Charlie VI, once owned the largest antiques and antiques collection in Europe. By the end of the 15th century, almost all European aristocratic families collected ancient Greek Roman dollars. Since then, the coin collection is called "The Hobby of Kings".

The picture above shows the Mu Mi Good Gold Coin collected by the House of Gonzaga, which is inlaid with the Eagle Tubu emblem. The coins collected by the Gonda can be embedded in a sign that represents ownership. The gold coins are embedded in the gold coins, and the silver coins and copper coins are embedded. The Genta -Gaga family ruled Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708, and their collections were taken away in 1629/30 years. Later, the ancient currency of the Gangza Eagle was scattered into many collectors in Europe. The gold coin entered their collection at the latest in 1630.

Entering the 16th century, the collection of ancient coins is even more popular. According to the coin of a Nero avatar at the time, the price of Takkat gold coins was equivalent to the price of 1/4 of a top artist painting. Easy to find. The systematic research on classical coins has begun in the 17th century. At that time, collectors began to hire professionals to keep and organize coins. The collections of the European and American public museums are based on the collection of these wealthy families.

The currency system of the European century was far from the ancient Greek and Rome period. The ancient coins unearthed could not be used as coins. Therefore, the ancient coins found before the Renaissance were often melted to obtain gold and silver. For example, in 1366, about 4 million ancient silver coins were found in Marseille, France, all of which were melted. After the Renaissance, after the wind of the ancient coin collection, a certain percentage of unearthed coins were preserved. The increase in roads and construction projects after the 17th century made many ancient coin celles discovered, and more cultural relics were also found during the reconstruction of buildings and landscapes during the war, so the market supply of ancient coins continued to increase. 2. The first collection and research climax in modern times

At the end of the 18th century, Europeans have been interested in ancient history since the Napoleonic era. Napoleon personally respects classical art. A series of large -scale commemorative medals issued by him when he reigned was deeply influenced by ancient Greece Roman. At that time, British, French and German forces were far away from ancient civilizations such as the China Sea and the Middle East, which facilitated the loss of ancient civilization for Europeans. At that time, many British aristocracy went to Greece, Italy, North Africa and other places with ancient tourism. Archeology is even more fruitful, such as Schliemann in Germany to excavate the legendary ancient cities such as Troy and Maxy; howard Carter in the United Kingdom excavates the tomb of King Tutan Camon; Arthur Evans interprets the text of Minos; the 7th Earl of Elgin sculpture is collected, and so on. During this period, the museum received a large number of archeological excavations including ancient coins and donations from private collections. For example, the British Museum collected about 500,000 classical coins. The wonderful cultural relics exhibition has triggered the public's further collection interest, leading to an increase in ancient currency transactions.

Below is a commemorative medal issued by Napoleon. The design of the chapter is almost completely taken from an ancient Greek silver coin:

In the early 19th to early 20th century, the middle class was raised. Classical historical education was popular and market transactions were convenient. These have led to the growth of ancient coins collection teams. Ancient coins collection is no longer a "king's hobby", which is more civilian. With the increase of the number of participants, the research of ancient coins has also entered a climax, and a large number of academic literature is published. The famous coin directory includes CoScripting Historique Des Monnaies Frappees Sous L'Empire Romain (BMC) Catalog (BMC). The Roman Empire Mint (RIC), Ancient Greek Company (SNGS), etc., there are many important coin studies.

The ancient Greek Roman currency can be said to be the ancestor of the modern currency. Although modern currency making uses a pressure machine to replace the handmade big hammer and use the retractor to replace the handmade carving model, the ancient Greek Roman currency in design and theme is both design and theme. Deeply affecting modern coins. The picture below is a comparison between an ancient Roman and modern currency issued by a spring friend. On the right is the Silver Coin of the Spanish Interim Government in 1870. The design of this currency completely copied the ancient Roman Emperor Hardor on the left to inspect the commemorative coins issued by the Spanish province.

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