1933 Double Eagle Gold Coin

Foreign Coin History

Foreign coin history

Foreign coin history is an interesting subject as they were the earliest form of money and have survived the test of time to be still used today. Despite credit and debit cards accounting for a huge amount of transactions (especially online) the humble coin still plays an important part in our day-to-day monetary system.

In the Western World it’s estimated that coins were invented around 700 BC – it’s thought that they were originated in Aegina Island. Coins nowadays are quite complex in their make-up however early coins were also made up of a number of combined metals such as electrum combined with silver and copper. Electrum itself is a light yellow coloured metal that contains a mix of both silver and gold.

Roman and Greek coins are very popular with collectors. The Byzantine Empire was prolific when it came to coin production, their coins would depict emperors and the Christian cross.

When it comes to foreign coins that were cast instead of hammered then we can go all the way back to the 11th Century to see samples. Tong Bei coins was commonplace with the Han Dynasty and the Warring States Period.

It’s interesting to note that in the same way that different animals had different ‘trade’ values (such as a cow being worth more than a chicken) then this was mirrored in the production of some coins. Some early coins for example were shaped the same as various animals (such as a cow).

As with many foreign coins today they are and were predominantly round, however there were a few that were square in shape. It was also common for many coins to have a hole in the middle so they could be threaded on a piece of string. This you can still see today with some Asian coins and coins from the Nordic region.

Gold and silver features heavily throughout the history of foreign coins, from the colour that we see today through to some coins containing various levels of these precious metals. The earliest pure gold and silver coins date back to the 7th Century and are the gold Dinar and silver Dirham.

Interestingly the most valuable gold coin in the world is the 1933 Gold Double Eagle which sold for an incredible $7.5 million back in 2002. This coins has a very interesting history on it’s own and you can read more here:

http://coins.about.com/od/famousrarecoinprofiles/p/1933_Gold_Eagle.htm

For many of us who go abroad or accept foreign coins as part of a business or charity then you’ll know that they can’t be changed at a bank. However, we offer a fast, efficient and easy way to exchange foreign coins. If you have any foreign or old coins that you’d like to exchange then please go to our page ‘How to send us coins‘.  We make it simple and fast to get your coins changed and we even sort and count them for you saving you even more time.  We give you the service that the bank won’t and we would be delighted to give you assistance with your leftover coins.

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