greek coins – Antique Coins – Ancient Greek Coins

Sunday, January 24th, 2010 at 9:18 am

Ancient Greek coins have a variety of attributes that enable differentiation between the currencies of individual poleis. Each polis independently designed and created its own coins, with symbols that were representative of the deities and heroes important to that particular government. This theme supersedes all of the other trends in Greek coin making throughout the centuries.

Archaic period coins are simple and crude. Rather than being symmetrically round, they approximate lumps of metal that have been pressed into irregular disks. Usually made from gold, silver, or electrum, they have a basic impression of the patron deity of the originating polis.

During the Classical period, coin-making techniques were refined. Most coins were minted from gold or silver. The coins were more consistently shaped, with intricate representations of deities or heroes on one side and a symbol for the polis on the reverse. Inscriptions were initially incorporated into the design for coins created during the Classical period. Coin designers paid special attention to the meaning of the symbols, and used them to incorporate political messages into the currency. For example, coins depicting an owl (a symbol for wisdom) are usually from Athens during the fourth and fifth centuries B.C., when the polis was focusing on portraying an image of peaceful strength and power.

Hellenistic period coins are not as detailed as Classical period coins because they were designed to be easier to mass produce for wider circulation. They are most commonly minted from gold and are often much larger than their predecessors. While earlier coins only featured images of animals or inanimate objects, for the first time, Greek coins portrayed living people, such as a profile of the ruler of the issuing polis. The name of the ruler may be inscribed under the portrait, and on the reverse of the coin is usually a symbol for the polis.

Greek coin denominations are determined by weight. Gold coins were measured in terms of the stater, which could be divided into smaller denominations. Silver coins were measured in terms of the drachm, which could be either divided into smaller denominations or multiplied into larger denominations. Bronze coins were measured in terms of the litra. Despite the standardization in the assignment of names to the units of measurement, however, each polis defined the units of measurement differently, such that how much a stater, drachm or litra weighed in one polis did not necessarily correlate to the weights for the same units of measurement in other poleis. Thus, what sufficed as a drachm in one polis may have been too light or too heavy to be used as a drachm in another polis.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for pottery, antiques, and figurines. When shopping for pottery, antiques and figurines, we recommend these online stores for pottery and Greek antique coins.

Sightseeing In The City Of Boston

Boston is a city steeped in American history and mystique. It is the largest metropolis in New England and has a multitude of experiences for any traveler. Over the years Boston has enjoyed a steady increase in tourism, and is now one of the top 10 tourist sites in the United States. The best time to visit Boston is during the spring or summer, especially May through September.

There are myriad options for getting into Boston, with Logan International Airport being the easiest. The airport services every major international airline, as well as serving as a center for domestic flights and connections. The airport is not far out of town, and taxis as well as shuttles are cheap going to the city center. Trains and buses also service Boston, it serves as an Amtrak hub and there are numerous bus lines coming from the entire northeast region. The best thing about arriving in Boston after a tiring trip is that it has wonderful public transportation and is laid out as a walkable city, so a car is unnecessary.

There are too many sights to see on just one trip, but these are some of the top-rated experiences from people who know what they are talking about

" The Boston Museum of Fine Arts houses impressive collections of French Impressionistic art, as well as large collections of Japanese and Greek artifacts.
" The New England Aquarium until recently held the largest fish tank in the world, and is still an great choice for anyone that loves underwater life.
" The Panopticon Gallery, founded in the 1970s, is dedicated solely to photographs and has excellent contemporary works.
" The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile walk through historic sites that played integral roles in Americas war for independence.
" Bostons local brewery, Sam Adams, offers tours with free beer samples throughout.
" If you go during the months of April to October, no trip to Boston would be complete without watching a Red Sox game at Fenway Park!
" Schools like MIT and Harvard, some of the most highly regarded in the world, are located in Boston and offer campus tours for free.

Boston is known far and wide for its incredible bar scene, and it is not uncommon to see one or two bars on nearly every block. The densest concentrations of drinking holes can be found on Canal Street, Downtown Crossing, around Fen
1000
way, and Harvard Square. Irish pubs abound, and many tourists try to locate their own perfect watering hole. Tired bar goers can find their caffeine fix at any of the hundreds Dunkin Donuts locations around Boston, the city where it was born. Dining in Boston is like most cosmopolitan cities, in that there is something to be found for all comers. If there are two things New England and Boston in particular are known for when it comes to cuisine, they are clam chowder and lobster. Both should be sampled before leaving the city.

Boston is one of Americas great cities, and everyone should make a visit at least once.

By: Traveling Matt

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Matt Kepnes is a native Bostonian who loves his city dearly. You can find out more about the things to do in Boston as well as information on the city of Boston itself.