By: Yusri Abd al-Ghani Abd Allah

The science of numismatics or the study of money is one of the sciences that are indispensable for the historical or archaeological researcher, as well it is important for the intellectual interested in humanities to be familiar with it, because money is the pillar of study of ancient economy, and a mirror of commercial activity and dealings between peoples of the world.

And numismatics is a clear historical evidence for what it carries of date of its striking, and name of king or emperor and motto of the state whether it was symbolic or religious. Like kings and leaders in the ancient era used money to spread certain ideas among people, because it is faster in circulation than anything else. And study of mottos pictured on currency does not only increase our knowledge of ancient peoples' leaders and habits, but informs us about the ideas and feelings that mottos and images symbolize.

And currency does not only define its date, but finding it in a certain place helps us also in defining date of the place, for if we found a currency inside an old house for example we can compare between age of the house and date of the currency, as for if we found for example a currency in foundation of a house it must be that the currency is older than the house itself, it is therefore an important means for defining dates.

Ancient currency is mirror of economy, because idea of currency appeared with aim of facilitating commercial activity, for merchants before invention of currency were dealing with precious metal pieces, like: ld and silver, then they resorted to putting their seals on them to guarantee purity of their metals and weight, and this development appeared in Asia Minor countries during the ninth century BC.

Preferred metal for striking currency at that time was a mixture of ld and silver alloy with certain ratios, and the mixture is called electrum, and the struck currency from electrum is called billon.

And when idea of state started increasing in clarity and its apparatuses became supervising commercial movement because of intensity of competition on it between different cities: vernment of city-states intervened to put a guarantee on these metal pieces that the state pledges to guarantee value of its weight and purity of its metal.

Numismatics scholars believe that first state reached that is Kingdom of Lydia in Asia Minor, and soon this behavior pleased the commercial Greek cities that were spreading along the coast of Asia Minor and in the Aegean Sea. They are cities whose first work and even only was trade between peoples of this region.

Accordingly, vernments of Greek cities found that in state guarantee for metal pieces used for exchanging value of sold things a great guarantee for stability of external trade and its guarantee. Therefore they resorted to following this system.

And putting special motto for every city on metal pieces suited direction of Greek city-states that were keen on asserting their personality and independence.

And since year 700 BC Greek money started appearing in wide areas of Mediterranean basin, in Egypt and Syria and North Africa. Which reflects size of trade between Egypt and Greek cities in Asia Minor or in Aegean Sea, even it is the only evidence on establishment of this trade. And known historically that Egypt was economically self-sufficient country in ancient ages, except for cedar wood and silver because it was a rare metal unlike ld which was available in a large way in Egypt.

For this reason Greek cities were keen on striking their money from silver in order to present it to Egyptians against wheat which was surplus to Egypt's need, where its fields produce it in abundance, and for this the student of history of commercial relations of Egypt and countries neighboring it finds before him a large group of silver money for a large number of Greek cities. Then he can define ratio of dealing with each of them and development that occurs on this dealing as result of change of political conditions in the world, and competition of cities among themselves to monopolize global trade market with Egypt.

And currency is connected to strength of local economy, because that reflects on its international status, and Greek city of Cyrene in Libya was famous for exporting medicinal silphium plant which request on it was intense in external world, and Cyrene city placed a drawing for this plant on its currency as a symbol and motto for city, and then we find this currency widespread in wide patches of Egypt and countries of Greece and Italy and Asia Minor.

And when Rome tried to impose its sovereignty politically on Mediterranean countries following defeat of Hannibal at end of third century BC it resorted to supporting Roman Denarius in order to become currency having its respect among Mediterranean countries, even Ptolemaic Egypt reduced its currency then until it became equal to value of Roman Denarius, and other Hellenistic kingdoms followed Egypt's lead, and that was beginning of actual control of Romans on economies of Mediterranean countries.

As well money is accurate measure for trade and control, the state is also measure for state of internal or national economy, for in ancient times wealthy state was keen on weight of currency and purity of its metal whether its smelting from ld or silver, and in case of bankruptcy of economy or exposure of state to economic troubles then it resorts to reducing weight of currency, or reducing ratio of precious metals in it, and mixes it with cheap metals, like: bronze or tin.

Roman Empire resorted several times to reducing its currency on hope in re-activating its economy.

In Egypt for example economic ruin of country during Roman rule in third century AD reflects in hiding silver currency which we used to see at beginning of Roman rule and its turning to semi-bronze Romans called it national or local currency, while silver currency remained a non-existent symbol in reality decided taxes calculated on its basis.

From measures of prosperity in ancient world countries diversity of currency cateries to graded degrees, and whenever smallest catery existed then meaning this that it is requested in dealing, and meaning that we find fils or millieme or cent, present in abundance in markets, and then we know that there is dealing promotion, and economic prosperity. As for if these small cateries disappeared weight became focused on large currencies, and this was greatest economic evidence on rise of prices and increase of size of inflation and history researcher can study that through comprehensive study of currency. And of course he must have background in economics science until he can understand and perceive such matters and then his judgment becomes sound.

Studying currency is science and art and history, science because it is origins and rules must be known and followed, and art because currency is field of technical and pictorial study, and history because it is easy to classify it temporally and according to places in which it was struck. In addition to inscriptions and dates that currency carries.

For this numismatics study science contributed big contribution in enriching historical knowledge of ancient and modern world countries, especially when documents remain silent or unable to divulge or express, or be rare, for example: during third century AD, which is considered poorest eras of Roman Empire in history, there is no writings of originality can benefit researcher or student, and inscriptions are rare, and papyrus documents only exist in Egypt.

And all of them local and social subjects, here there is no before researcher except studying currency in order to know personalities of emperors and rulers. And economic and political development in that period.

Currency has two faces: obverse and reverse, on obverse we find usually image of emperor or king as well his name and title and date of his assuming power reins, and on reverse we see symbol of city or its motto or symbol of certain historical occasion, like: annexation of kingdom or establishment of new state, and all that recognized historical evidences must be placed in account.

Like currency reveals identity of many political groups that had special entity enabled them from striking currency in its capacity as symbol of its sovereignty and active political existence.

And on reverse of currency usually symbol of city or state is placed, and often expresses a certain legend having relation to state or about certain occasion like commemorative coins, and this makes study of money an important source for history of legends and traditions and arts in a general way.

Like study of money clarifies to us extent of flourishing of trade and its slackness and relations of states and provinces each to other as the case in Europe during Middle Ages. Like spread of currency in areas outside country in which it was struck clarifies extent of political and commercial activity for some states.

Like: Chinese and Indian currency found in east of African continent, as well Arab currency found in northwest Europe. And traces of Italian currencies in Arab East, and Florentine Florin in parts of Europe at era of Renaissance, and from all that we can extract historical evidences in field of history study despite health of documents and texts.

Legends and religious symbols and political mottos and historical commemorations state was using them spread certain ideas. And that because currency is fast moving between people, especially that image was more expressive and impactful than writing if we placed in account high rise illiteracy ratio among peoples in that time.

And there might be difficulty in interpreting religious symbols which we see on ancient money for lack of our knowledge of them. And for rarity of sources that can interpret for us their meaning and significance.

But in Europe during Middle Ages we have illustrated literary sources explaining to us meanings of these symbols , for example we read: that symbol of Constantinople in sixth century AD is symbol of Greek ddess of beauty (Aphrodite). And when Emperor Tiberius came and changed this symbol to cross we knew that Emperor Justin II owner of Aphrodite idea was embracing paganism secretly.

Drawings placed on reverse of currency were like drawings of postage stamps in our days. I.e. they were a means for propaganda and attracting attention to important events occurring in state, or to its leaders, or to its monuments, or to its figures, even to its excellence in a certain arena, all this reveals to us clearly and plainly aspects of national history of states, in same time which requires for judging of caution mentality because exaggeration and hyperbole was general trait in ancient propaganda, which treats against facts clarified by historical evidences and proofs.

Like money throws sometimes bright light on some constitutional issues which documents like well people of history remain silent about talking about them, for example: reveals extent of independence of city-states and provinces even they possess a special currency for themselves. And why emperors allow for some city-states striking independent currency inside empire, and reject this right for others? And this may reveal complex constitutional and legal issues needing research and study.

And this makes us ask: was striking currency a right from emperor rights or authority of senator and Roman people, or from authority of provinces vernors? And when is it permissible and when not permissible striking local currency?

And reader in history of economy and economic systems will find other important evidences helping him in this arena.

* Researcher and lecturer in Arabic and Islamic studies.