NUMISMAtIC JOURNEY

Standardised pre-historic monetary items (like handcrafted or natural goods) can be dated back as far as 3000 BC to 2500 BC (Mediterranean region). The first metal coins (casting technology) are dated back to approx. 1200 BC (China region), and the first coins struck out of casted dies are dated back to approx. 700 BC (Mediterranean Region). From that time on coins were struck in gold, silver, copper and bimetals. From then on striking technics especially for coins in gold, silver and coppers have developed all over the World.

The earliest mentioning of a coin collection leads us back to the Renaissance period. The well-known Poet and Humanist Petrarca (1304-1374) was famous for his collection of Antique Coins.

In the middle of the 16th Century already 950 Cabinets of Coin Collections where registered.

In 1783 the first Numismatic Lectures were held by Johann Heinrich Schulze at the University of Halle (Saxony, Germany).

In the 19th Century Numismatology has developed to a discipline of Science supported by famous Numismatists like Eckhel (Antique Coins), Mader (Middle-Age Coins), Leitzmann and Grote.

It was especially Grote’s contribution to establish Numismatology as the apprenticeship of Money (from “Science of Facts” to “Social Science” such as Sociology, Political Science and Economies).

From about 1830 on many national, regional and local Numismatic Societies have been founded by Collectors and Numismatic Professionals. Numerous old Numismatic Societies still exist until today and many neWones have been added since.

The World of Numismatic today covers more monetary items than just coins. For example medals, tokens and patternstrikes, which are very closely related to the history of coins. Although paper money, stocks, bonds, promissory notes and electronical payment-cards can be called as collectable monetary items in the World of Numismatics.

There is a multitude of different platforms world-wide where coins and other monetary items are presented either for trading or for exhibitions. Auctions, Money or Coin Shows, Coin Shops, Numismatic Societies, Museums etc are examples for platforms of Numismatic activities.