Many are interested in what numismatics is. The definition of this term, as well as the peculiarities of the historical development of science, are quite interesting facts that relate to many famous personalities of past centuries.
A lot of people are fond of numismatics - it is for them that coins are a cultural and historical value, for which they are ready to go to the ends of the world. Collectors are doing their best to get another rare coin and replenish their collection. It should also be borne in mind that if you like such pleasure as numismatics, coin prices may surprise you very much. Having your own collection is quite expensive, it requires not only an investment of labor and patience, but also a lot of money (if we are talking about really rare items).
Meaning of term
What is numismatics? Translated from Greek, “nomos” means law or legal tender, and “nomism” already means “coin”. Numismatics itself is the science of coins, now it is an auxiliary historicaldiscipline that studies the history of money circulation and coinage.
The difference between a collector and a numismatist
There are completely different concepts, such as "numismatic collecting" and "numismatics as a science". It is ordinary collectors who will be most interested not in the historical value of the coin, but in its rarity, as well as various artistic features. But if we talk about numismatics as a science, then coins are the most important object for studying many important historical processes of the formation and fall of entire states, their foreign economic relations and features of public life.
For example, all theories of the origin of money depend on such scientists. They examine not only coins, but also checks, bonds, stocks, various credit cards and much more. Hence, in 1960, the broader term “exonumia” appeared, which refers to the collection of various exotic numismatic means of payment that do not fall under the category of officially accepted by the state. This also applies to commemorative coins, all kinds of souvenirs in the form of banknotes or coins that were issued on the occasion of any celebration.
The importance of the appearance of numismatics
It is by realizing the importance of the appearance of such a phenomenon that you can understand what numismatics is. The definition indicates that this science studies not only various types of coins, but also paper money, medals, orders, badges.
Numismaticshow science provides information about the various economic relations of peoples of different times and eras. With the help of coins, you can learn a lot about political history or about geography. Scientists, studying such means of payment, fill in the gaps in the field of customs and traditions of individual peoples and civilizations and their history of development. That is why numismatics is quite closely connected with symbology, epigraphy, iconology, as well as with art history.
The history of the emergence of numismatics as a science
Such a hobby as numismatics appeared in ancient Rome, later it was recorded in the Renaissance in Italy, from where it spread further to European countries. It was at that time that the sages of the whole world began to write scientific treatises about this phenomenon, in which the essence of various images and inscriptions on coins is explained in sufficient detail.
Eckel – scientific works in the field of numismatics are associated with this name of an authoritative Austrian scientist, because he is the founder of the first systematic scientific research on this topic. In the 18th century, eight volumes of the book "The Science of Ancient Coins" by J. I. Eckel were published in Vienna - it was from this period that the science of coins began to exist.
Stages in the evolution of the science of coins
So, the history of numismatics. There are two main stages of her evolution, after passing through which she appeared before us in the form in which we all know her very well.
What does numismatics mean? This sciencewent through a long process of formation, because it was completely dependent on money. The first stage includes an era in which barter was quite popular as the only way to get any good without knowing what money is.
The second stage began with the fact that gold was the only equivalent commodity for which anything could be exchanged.
Later on, the first gold and silver coins appeared. The state mass-produced coins that had identical weight and shape, and also set the value in different denominations.
It was from this stage that the emergence of numismatics began, the first collectors appeared. The natural exchange of products and everyday goods is the only thing that was popular in ancient times.
The surplus of homemade food has always been exchanged for something more useful for the household. Everything was used - shells, skins, fabrics and much more.
Origin of coins
There is no single version of how the first coins appeared and how they looked. Many researchers claim that the king of Argos on the island of Aegina minted the first coins. A small part of scientists is sure that the Lydians were involved in this as early as the 6th century BC. There is also an opinion that the inhabitants of Mediterranean Ionia were the first bankers in the 7th century BC. The inscriptions and images on the coins depicted great rulers or generals, important historical and political events. This applies to hostilities, the internal struggle in the state for power,various religious reforms and more.
Metal for old coins
Many scientists give a variety of answers to the question of what numismatics is. The definition shows that people who are interested in coins do not just accumulate them in their collections, for the sake of self-esteem, but they are researchers of the collectible object.
Coins in Asia Minor, as well as in Greece, were made of silver and gold. China distinguished itself by minting them from copper. A little later, various alloys became more popular in this regard. This applies to bronze, bilon, brass. A small amount of copper was added to gold coins - a ligature was obtained, the sample of which was determined precisely by the proportion of copper included in the composition. The sample has always been established by the state.
Slightly later, aluminum, nickel, lead and other metals were added to the alloys in order to make the coins more durable and wear-resistant during operation.
History knows cases when the state issued new coins that had the same denomination as the previous ones, but were worse in quality, and the proportion of precious metals in them was much lower. This defacement of the coin was one way to profit.
The purpose of old coins
What is numismatics? The definition is of interest to many. First you need to understand the purpose of the coins.
Previously, they were used not only for cash flow, but also for memory. Their release could be timed to coincide with some significant event. For example, this applies to coins “for visiting mints”, “for death”, or “for the remission of sins”. It is also known about a special coin that the executioner handed over to the judge when he retired - “the pfennig of the executioner of Hamburg”. Coins could be minted for birthdays and other equally significant dates. The science of numismatics studies each such coin individually, paying due attention to all the historical events that influenced its appearance.
No less popular coins "to visit the mints." Worthy examples are those that have a denomination of 2 marks and were issued in the Kingdom of Saxony for the visit of the kings of the Müldenhütten Mint in 1900, as well as the coins of the Warsaw Mint for the President of Poland in the 1920s. They are especially sought after by modern collectors.
Commomerative coins, the release of which was specially timed to coincide with some solemn event, are highly valued by modern collectors.
Modern valuable coins of Russia
Numismatics distinguishes several very valuable coins of Russia, the cost of which varies from a thousand rubles to 400 thousand rubles per piece.
This refers to the 2002 five kopecks, which do not have a mint mark. The price of such a coin is up to four thousand apiece. For example, 5 kopecks produced in 2003 have a value of up to 800 rubles apiece.
There are coins for which you can get a reward even in banks. For example, 5 rubles in 2003, which were issued by the St. Petersburgmint, the bank will be valued at 5 thousand rubles for one piece, but for numismatists their cost is twice as high.
One ruble in 2003 costs 10 thousand rubles from numismatists. 50 kopecks 2001 issued by the Moscow Mint - 100 thousand rubles minimum.
2 rubles of 2001 issued by the Moscow Mint cost from 100 thousand rubles. The same applies to the 1 ruble coin of 2001.
From this follows the conclusion: this is an expensive hobby - numismatics. Piece prices for a truly worthwhile collection are sometimes prohibitively high.
