Coins of the World

Coins allow us a glimpse into times that have left few other artifacts and serve as a record of important historical events. They tell the story of the world’s cultures in religious, social, and economic evolution over many thousands of years and in many parts of the world. China is thought to be the first country to mint and use copper coins, as early as the eleventh century BC. These coins, introduced by the Shang Dynasty to replace the traditional cowrie shell currency, were circular with a square center hole in order for the coin to be threaded onto a string for safe keeping. But the Shang Dynasty coin is the just the first of a multitude of coins that have been issued over the years in various shapes, created from many different mediums, and decorated by a wide range of animals and birds, national rulers, mythical gods and goddesses, and architectural structures. Coin collecting, or numismatology, is an entertaining and educational hobby for both sophisticated and armchair enthusiasts. This book offers a brief tour of past and current coins from cultures around the world that can be enjoyed by aspiring, newly minted, and tried-and-true numismatists!