A comprehensive numismatic collection...

[Prestonianus]

If you are interested in the entire history of coinage and wanted to build up a collection, what would you include and why?

For the ancients side, I would say no self-respecting collection should be without:

A) A chinese cowry shell
B) A Lydian Stater
C) Athenian Tetradrachm
C) Alexander the Great Tetradrachm
D) Roman Denarius (preferably a 'tribute penny'
E) Silver Shekel (preferably a 30 piece type)
F) Roman Sestertius
G) Roman Solidus
H) Medieval Denier or Penny

....

For the Modern side, I would include an English Shilling, Spanish 8 Reale (and maybe a 2 Escuado), a post-1710 Russian coin (first decimal currency), a Conder Token, a Cartwheel Tuppence or Penny (the first truly modern coins), a gold Sovereign (preferably 1817) and then whatever else you see fit.

Comments?

[Enodia]

i might include an Aigina stater in with the ancients, as the first real 'trade dollar'.

~ Peter

[areich]

I've said it before but this way you end up with a (comparatively) boring collection, kind of like listening only to the Top 20.

[Philoromaos]

D) Roman Denarius (preferably a 'tribute penny'

Heh, don't let Areich hear you say that!  


Where to start. Some I really wanted or still want are....

1. Aspendos Stater
2. Side Tetradrachm
3. Sikyon Triobol
4 Julius Caesar Denarius with Aeneas
5. Istros Stater
6. Ptolemy I or II Tetradrachm
7. Corinthian Stater
8. Miletus 1/12 Stater
9. Metapontion Stater
10. Nero Roma Sestertius


I could  on and on here...


Regards Adrian

[Enodia]

I've said it before but this way you end up with a (comparatively) boring collection, kind of like listening only to the Top 20.

true, but it makes an interesting theoretical comparison. kinda like the classic 'fantasy dinner'... who would you invite?

~ Peter

[Prestonianus]

I've said it before but this way you end up with a (comparatively) boring collection, kind of like listening only to the Top 20.

It's impossible to collect every type of every coin that has ever existed. I personally have several different 'collections' on the go at any one time, including specialised type collections.
 You could expand on this much further, but the idea about this is to get the fundamentals, the bones of a truly comprehensive world coin collection. The coins I am talking about would have had to have made a decisive impact in the history of money or coins, or in historical events. The Lydian Stater for example, introduced the concept of coinage (to the west at least), whereas an average, run of the mill copper coin of medieval Kandy was not as important in the grand scheme of things.
 Coins from the more obscure nation states/civilizations could provide the flesh on the bones, but I'm talking about building the skeleton first...

[Potator II]

It's impossible to collect every type of every coin that has ever existed. I personally have several different 'collections' on the go at any one time, including specialised type collections.
 You could expand on this much further, but the idea about this is to get the fundamentals, the bones of a truly comprehensive world coin collection. The coins I am talking about would have had to have made a decisive impact in the history of money or coins, or in historical events. The Lydian Stater for example, introduced the concept of coinage (to the west at least), whereas an average, run of the mill copper coin of medieval Kandy was not as important in the grand scheme of things.
 Coins from the more obscure nation states/civilizations could provide the flesh on the bones, but I'm talking about building the skeleton first...

Then, rather than a tribute penny, why not a republic one ?
I think you should add an Aes signatum

Regards
Potator