What was the purpose of the Athenian coin?
Greek coins had images of important people, symbols, local produce or gods and heroes and inscriptions to emphasize the independence and individuality of the city where they were made. The images on early Greek coins give us a lot of information about Ancient Greek life and culture .
What were coins used for in ancient Greece?
Usually Greeks carried coins in their mouths since their clothing lacked pockets. When someone died they were buried with a couple of coins in their mouth to pay the ferryman Charon their passage across the river Styx to the underworld.
Why was it important to be a good citizen in Athens?
Athenian democracy depended on having well-prepared citizens. People in Athens believed that producing good citizens was the main purpose of education. Since only boys could grow up to be citizens, boys and girls were educated quite differently.
How did coins change trade in the Greek world?
Still, for the citizens of a particular city and its surrounding territories coinage became a very useful way to buy and sell goods, and it was convenient for the state to use coins to pay for small public services such as participating in law courts.
What kind of power was Athens?
This demokratia, as it became known, was a direct democracy that gave political power to free male Athenian citizens rather than a ruling aristocratic class or dictator, which had largely been the norm in Athens for several hundred years before.
How much would a drachma be worth today?
A modern person might think of one drachma as the rough equivalent of a skilled worker’s daily pay in the place where they live, which could be as low as US$1, or as high as $100, depending on the country.
Why are coins so important?
Coins are one of the most important sources of information from which archaeologists and historians can try to interpret the past. This is partly because, unlike most other ancient artefacts, they are often stamped with words and images. It is also because they are hard-wearing and survive in large numbers.
When was the Athenian coin found?
This coin is one of ten Athenian tetradrachms found in a hoard of coins, ingots, and jewelry discovered in 1967 on the Jordanian-Syrian border in the region of Hauran (near the ancient city of Bostra).
What did Athenian society value?
education
The Athenians valued education and the arts and believed that educated people made the best citizens.
What was the most important element of Athens society?
Athens Values While Spartans valued military strength, Athenians placed a higher value on education and culture. Their main goal was building a democracy. Athenians believed that the only way to build a strong democracy was to create well informed citizens. Boys were educated.
Why is the development of coins so important to trade in the ancient world?
Give one reason why the development of coins was so important to trade in the ancient world. The coins were stamped on both sides, making it more difficult for anyone to cheat by cutting away some of the metal. They were also easier to handle than metal bars and more convenient than barter.
What is an influential aspect of Athenian government on modern democracies?
An influential aspect of Athenian government on modern democracies is the use of juries to decide trials.
How much silver was in an Athenian coin?
The Attic standard was common for Athenian coins, where a drachm was equal to about 4.3 grams of silver. The bountiful silver supply at the Laurion mines was used in this period to make the ancient Greek coins of the Attic standard. Ancient Greek coins arrived at an elevated level of technicality and aesthetic quality during the classical period.
Why are ancient Greek coins worth so much?
Today ancient Greek coins are also numismatic coins. This means that they are worth more than the value of their precious metal and are therefore valuable collectibles. Their added value is mainly a result of their ancient history and rarity.
Which is the most beautiful coin of ancient Greece?
Without a doubt, Rhodian coins are among the most beautiful ancient Greek coins. Their high quality combined with the rich Rhodian history also means that they are among the finest numismatic coins of the Classical Period. Their obverse side featured the sun-god Helios, the husband of the island of Rhodes.
What did the logos on Ancient Greek coins mean?
Known as a badge or emblem in numismatics, ancient Greek coins developed the use of a unique logo or feature relating to their particular city-state or “polis”. These coins were meant to show off the prestige of a certain city-state.