Numismatica

Numismatic is the science of coins under an economic, legislative, metrological and artistic point of view. It has a great importance in the whole Historical and Archaeological science; as a matter of fact into the peculiarity of a people or age the Coin holds a fundamental role: it has always reflected the political, economical, artistic and social trends of the time in which it developed. And who, approaching this subject, isn't charmed ? 27 centuries of history, kings, princes, usurpers and tyrants who learnt soon how to use this formidable propaganda instrument, handing down their ideas and customs...
As we have said, ancient coins are of great interest to the collector as expression of art, as well as portrayals of history. Even though the word "numismatist" is sometimes used to mean "collector", in fact, there is no reason why this should necessarily be so. A collector isn't necessarily an expert, nor does the expert have to possess a collection. In practice, of course, and as logic outcome, those whose studies are concerned with ancient coins tend to become collectors, while those who begin to build up a collection are usually impelled, at first out of curiosity and then through an increasing awareness of what their coins have to tell them, to acquire a numismatic patina of some kind. The Romans themselves had a penchant for collecting "antiquities". Both Pliny and Plutarch tell us that there were those who were prepared to buy coins no longer in circulations at prices higher than their face value. Even Petrarch perceived the historical and documentary worth of the Imperial Roman Coinage, but this is another tale we hope to tell you another time in articles section...

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Since April '98 by Massimiliano Tursi