Greek and Roman Coins

The use of gold, silver, and bronze coins was a distinctive feature of Greek and Roman culture. The subject comprises the principal developments in coinage from its beginnings around 600 BC until the reign of Diocletian (AD 284-305). Emphasis will be placed on the ways in which numismatic evidence may be be used to address questions of historical and archaeological interest. The numismatic approaches to monetary, economic, political, and cultural history will be explored, as well as numismatics as a branch of art-history. Both hoards and site-finds will be examined from an archaeological perspective. Lectures will normally be available in both Greek coinage (Henry Kim) and Roman coinage (Chris Howgego), and students will be encouraged to make use of the excellent collection in the Heberden Coin Room of the Ashmolean Museum.