When we speak today of 'Celts', we mean people who live on the very western edges of Europe, in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and Brittany. The word comes from Keltoi,  More »

When we speak today of 'Celts', we mean people who live on the very western edges of Europe, in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and Brittany. The word comes from Keltoi, the name which the Greek authors of the 5th century B.C. and later gave the native people of Western Europe from Spain to Czechoslovakia. The Celts also spread into Britain, Northern Italy, Germany, and parts of Asian Turkey. They were known to the Romans as the Gauls, but would have thought of themselves not as one people, but as different tribes. Celtic tribes at different times were Rome's enemies, allies and, once conquered, the soldiers, farmers and craftsmen of much of its empire. This tetradrachm is a close match to the original type from Thasos unlike many of the Celtic copies that bear little resemblance to the model. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who might have touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after it leaves our hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and location, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine- made currencies. - (C.4211)   « Less

When we speak today of 'Celts', we mean people who live on the very western edges of Europe, in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and Brittany. The word comes from Keltoi,  More »

When we speak today of 'Celts', we mean people who live on the very western edges of Europe, in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and Brittany. The word comes from Keltoi, the name which the Greek authors of the 5th century B.C. and later gave the native people of Western Europe from Spain to Czechoslovakia. The Celts also spread into Britain, Northern Italy, Germany, and parts of Asian Turkey. They were known to the Romans as the Gauls, but would have thought of themselves not as one people, but as different tribes. Celtic tribes at different times were Rome's enemies, allies and, once conquered, the soldiers, farmers and craftsmen of much of its empire. This tetradrachm is a close match to the original type from Thasos unlike many of the Celtic copies that bear little resemblance to the model. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who might have touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after it leaves our hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and location, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine- made currencies. - (C.4216)   « Less

When we speak today of 'Celts', we mean people who live on the very western edges of Europe, in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and Brittany. The word comes from Keltoi,  More »

When we speak today of 'Celts', we mean people who live on the very western edges of Europe, in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and Brittany. The word comes from Keltoi, the name which the Greek authors of the 5th century B.C. and later gave the native people of Western Europe from Spain to Czechoslovakia. The Celts also spread into Britain, Northern Italy, Germany, and parts of Asian Turkey. They were known to the Romans as the Gauls, but would have thought of themselves not as one people, but as different tribes. Celtic tribes at different times were Rome's enemies, allies and, once conquered, the soldiers, farmers and craftsmen of much of its empire. This tetradrachm is a close match to the original type from Thasos unlike many of the Celtic copies that bear little resemblance to the model. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who might have touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after it leaves our hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and location, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine- made currencies. - (C.4217)   « Less

When we speak today of 'Celts', we mean people who live on the very western edges of Europe, in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and Brittany. The word comes from Keltoi,  More »

When we speak today of 'Celts', we mean people who live on the very western edges of Europe, in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and Brittany. The word comes from Keltoi, the name which the Greek authors of the 5th century B.C. and later gave the native people of Western Europe from Spain to Czechoslovakia. The Celts also spread into Britain, Northern Italy, Germany, and parts of Asian Turkey. They were known to the Romans as the Gauls, but would have thought of themselves not as one people, but as different tribes. Celtic tribes at different times were Rome's enemies, allies and, once conquered, the soldiers, farmers and craftsmen of much of its empire. This tetradrachm is a close match to the original type from Thasos unlike many of the Celtic copies that bear little resemblance to the model. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who might have touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after it leaves our hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and location, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine- made currencies. - (C.4219)   « Less

While Alexander the Great was forging his vast kingdom in the east, the Romans had been expanding in the west and now began making inroads for Greece. They found willing  More »

While Alexander the Great was forging his vast kingdom in the east, the Romans had been expanding in the west and now began making inroads for Greece. They found willing allies in Pergamum and Rhodes, who feared Syrian and Macedonian expansionism. The Romans defeated the Seleucid king, Antiochus III, in a three-year campaign and in 189 B.C. gave all of Asia Minor to Pergamum. Several wars were needed to subjugate Macedon, but in 168 B.C. Macedon lost the decisive Battle of Pydnaa and was turned into a Roman province 20 years later. Under Roman rule, the region’s economy was controlled by the quaestor, any of various public officials responsible for finance and administration in several areas of government and the military in ancient Rome. Aesillas, the quaestor under whom this coin was minted, clearly manipulated his influence into a position of power symbolized by this coin. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who might have touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after it leaves our hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and location, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine- made currencies. This magnificent coin is a memorial recording the Roman domination of Macedon, once the home of Alexander the Great’s vast empire, passed down from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation. - (C.2010)   « Less

While Alexander the Great was forging his vast kingdom in the east, the Romans had been expanding in the west and now began making inroads for Greece. They found willing  More »

While Alexander the Great was forging his vast kingdom in the east, the Romans had been expanding in the west and now began making inroads for Greece. They found willing allies in Pergamum and Rhodes, who feared Syrian and Macedonian expansionism. The Romans defeated the Seleucid king, Antiochus III, in a three-year campaign and in 189 B.C. gave all of Asia Minor to Pergamum. Several wars were needed to subjugate Macedon, but in 168 B.C. Macedon lost the decisive Battle of Pydnaa and was turned into a Roman province 20 years later. Under Roman rule, the region’s economy was controlled by the quaestor, any of various public officials responsible for finance and administration in several areas of government and the military in ancient Rome. Under the authority of the quaestor, coins such as this one were minted, a unique testament to the Roman occupation of Macedon. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who might have touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after it leaves our hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and location, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This magnificent coin is an artifact recording the Roman rule of Macedon, homeland of Alexander the Great, passed down from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation. - (C.2011)   « Less

Philip V was one of the last great Macedonian sovereigns ruling from 221 to 179, whose attempt to extend Macedonian influence throughout Greece resulted in his defeat by  More »

Philip V was one of the last great Macedonian sovereigns ruling from 221 to 179, whose attempt to extend Macedonian influence throughout Greece resulted in his defeat by Rome. Philip assumed the throne at the age of seventeen and quickly won renown by supporting the Hellenic League in its war against Sparta, Aetolia, and Elis (220-217). Later, after the defeat of the Romans at Cannae, he completed a treaty with Hannibal in 215. Philip, allied with Hannibal, attacked the Roman client states in Illyria and initiated 10 years of inconclusive warfare against Rome, known as the First Macedonian War. The Romans countered his moves with an alliance with the Greek cities of the Aetolian League, but Philip effectively aided his allies. When the Romans withdrew in 207, he forced an independent settlement upon Aetolia (206) and concluded the war with Rome on favorable terms. Philip then plotted against Rhodes and in 203-202 conspired with Antiochus III of Syria to plunder the possessions of the Egyptian king Ptolemy V. But the people of Rhodes and Pergamum defeated Philip at sea off Chios and so exaggerated reports of his aggression that Rome decided to declare war again, thus igniting the Second Macedonian War. Successive Roman campaigns in Macedonia and Thessaly shook Philip's position in Greece, and in 197 the Romans decisively defeated him at Cynoscephalae in Thessaly. Until 189, Philip aided Rome against her enemies on the Greek peninsula. Philip devoted the last decade of his life to consolidating his kingdom. He reorganized finances, transplanted populations, reopened mines, and issued central and local currencies such as this coin. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial an ancient king and his kingdom passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.2223)   « Less

While Alexander the Great was forging his vast empire in the east, the Romans had been expanding in the west and now began making inroads for Greece. They found willing  More »

While Alexander the Great was forging his vast empire in the east, the Romans had been expanding in the west and now began making inroads for Greece. They found willing allies in Pergamum and Rhodes, who feared Syrian and Macedonian expansionism. The Romans defeated the Seleucid king, Antiochus III, in a three-year campaign and in 189 B.C. gave all of Asia Minor to Pergamum. Several wars were needed to subjugate Macedon, but in 168 B.C. Macedon lost the decisive Battle of Pydnaa and was turned into a Roman province 20 years later. Under Roman rule, the region’s economy was controlled by the quaestor, any of various public officials responsible for finance and administration in several areas of government and the military in ancient Rome. Aesillas, the quaestor under whom this coin was minted, clearly manipulated his influence into a position of power symbolized by this coin. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who might have touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after it leaves our hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and location, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine- made currencies. This magnificent coin is an artifact recording the Roman rule of Macedon, homeland of Alexander the Great, passed down from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation. - (C.3033)   « Less

While Alexander the Great was forging his vast kingdom in the east, the Romans had been expanding in the west and now began making inroads for Greece. They found willing  More »

While Alexander the Great was forging his vast kingdom in the east, the Romans had been expanding in the west and now began making inroads for Greece. They found willing allies in Pergamum and Rhodes, who feared Syrian and Macedonian expansionism. The Romans defeated the Seleucid king, Antiochus III, in a three-year campaign and in 189 B.C. gave all of Asia Minor to Pergamum. Several wars were needed to subjugate Macedon, but in 168 B.C. Macedon lost the decisive Battle of Pydnaa and was turned into a Roman province 20 years later. Under Roman rule, the region’s economy was controlled by the quaestor, any of various public officials responsible for finance and administration in several areas of government and the military in ancient Rome. Aesillas, the quaestor under whom this coin was minted, clearly manipulated his influence into a position of power symbolized by this coin. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who might have touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after it leaves our hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and location, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This magnificent coin is a memorial recording the Roman domination of Macedon, once the home of Alexander the Great’s vast empire, passed down from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation. - (C.3039)   « Less

Philip V was one of the last great Macedonian sovereigns ruling from 221 to 179, whose attempt to extend Macedonian influence throughout Greece resulted in his defeat by  More »

Philip V was one of the last great Macedonian sovereigns ruling from 221 to 179, whose attempt to extend Macedonian influence throughout Greece resulted in his defeat by Rome. Philip assumed the throne at the age of seventeen and quickly won renown by supporting the Hellenic League in its war against Sparta, Aetolia, and Elis (220-217). Later, after the defeat of the Romans at Cannae, he completed a treaty with Hannibal in 215. Philip, allied with Hannibal, attacked the Roman client states in Illyria and initiated 10 years of inconclusive warfare against Rome, known as the First Macedonian War. The Romans countered his moves with an alliance with the Greek cities of the Aetolian League, but Philip effectively aided his allies. When the Romans withdrew in 207, he forced an independent settlement upon Aetolia (206) and concluded the war with Rome on favorable terms. Philip then plotted against Rhodes and in 203-202 conspired with Antiochus III of Syria to plunder the possessions of the Egyptian king Ptolemy V. But the people of Rhodes and Pergamum defeated Philip at sea off Chios and so exaggerated reports of his aggression that Rome decided to declare war again, thus igniting the Second Macedonian War. Successive Roman campaigns in Macedonia and Thessaly shook Philip's position in Greece, and in 197 the Romans decisively defeated him at Cynoscephalae in Thessaly. Until 189, Philip aided Rome against her enemies on the Greek peninsula. Philip devoted the last decade of his life to consolidating his kingdom. He reorganized finances, transplanted populations, reopened mines, and issued central and local currencies such as this coin. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial an ancient king and his kingdom passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.3021)   « Less