The Ancient Collection features coins from six different cultures that flourished during antiquity. The collection includes: A Roman bronze nummus from the Constantinian dynasty, featuring the portrait of Constantine the Great or one of his sons (c. 306 to 363 CE) A bronze coin from the kingdom of Elymais, which existed near present day Iran during the Hellenistic period (c. 147 BCE to 224 CE) A prutah from ancient Judea, which bore witness to the tumultuous times of Roman occupation (c. 140 BCE to 70 CE) A bronze coin from the Nabataean Kingdom, the builders of the famous rock carved city of Petra A Chinese wu zhu from the Han dynasty (141 to 87 BCE) A copper coin from the Nagas of Narwar in India (200 to 340 CE) Though lacking in precious metal content, these low denomination coins are especially interesting from a historical point of view because they were actually used in everyday transactions. As the currency of the common people, these coins were used to pay for a wide variety of goods and services, as well as taxes. They provide a glimpse into the everyday lives of people in ancient times and can tell us about the economy, trade, and social norms of the period. This collection comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, and each of the coins has been professionally cleaned and conserved.
