Ancient gold coin - numismatic value

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:46

Modern numismatists are ready to give thousands and even millions of dollars for some copies of gold coins. Their value is determined by rarity, popularity, historical significance, appearance. The highest value among collectors of the world is an old gold coin in its various forms.

Historical digression

In ancient times, the function of money was performed by cattle, skins, meat, other products, handmade household items. A little later, iron, copper, bronze, silver, and only then gold were used in this role. The bars were of different sizes and fineness, payment created many difficulties.

In the 7th-6th century BC. e. the first coins appeared. This greatly simplified the process of buying and selling. Exchange in kind was preserved, coinage periods were replaced by non-coin ones, and iron in some countries was valued more expensive than silver and gold for a long time. But over time, gold money has gained the most value.

The first precious pennies were minted from pure metal. But due to its softness and plasticity, the old gold coin quickly lostits appearance and weight. When smelting ingots, silver or copper began to be added to increase their mechanical properties.

The first gold coins were used in Ancient Egypt, Ancient China, the Lydian Kingdom, Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire. In Europe, they came into use at the beginning of the XIII century. The appearance of gold in the territory of the Old World was associated with the development of trade relations with the Middle East, in particular with the Ottoman Empire.

The first ancient gold coin was minted in Florence and had the name "florin". After the gold coin fashion spread to other cities and countries. They had different names on the territory of different states, and even within one state their design and names changed. From now on, only its essence has not changed - the most valuable money in the world.

Reincarnations of English gold

The birth of the British "golden penny" fell on 1257. However, this money did not become regular and very quickly disappeared. Historically, seven copies have been preserved.

The old English gold coin found regular minting during the Hundred Years War with the French allies. She changed her appearance, value and significance in the monetary system. Some of the coins exist in a single quantity and are of high value to historians and numismatists.

Chronology of changing images and names of English gold money

Images of gold money changed gradually:

• XIV century: florin (equal to 6 shillings), later - noble (80 pence). They quickly got outturnover. Very rare and expensive. Florin exists only in triplicate. "Noble with Georgy" and full blown are popular.
• XV century: Rayol (10 shillings) and Angel (6 shillings 8 pence). Rare and valuable. The most popular rayol with a rose.
• 1489: sovereign (20 shillings).
• XVI century: crown (5 shillings) and pound (20 shillings). "Crown with a rose" is the most valuable of them.
• XVII century: sovereign, aka unity (in honor of the unification of England and Scotland); and under Charles II - a guinea.
• 1816: return of the sovereign. Chasing collectibles.
• XX century: the sovereign has gone out of circulation and is a British collector's coin.

French gold: the complexity of history

Until 1360, livres, denarii, sous (silver or bronze) were used in France. The beginning of the minting of gold coins also falls during the Hundred Years War. The first old French gold coin was called "franc", and due to the design features (the king is depicted on horseback), it was popularly nicknamed "horse franc". Later, the "foot franc" also appeared.

The monetary system of that time had the following gradation: 1 franc=1 Turkish livre=20 soles. The named monetary unit periodically appeared briefly, then disappeared again. The French Revolution brought back this currency, and it has remained a priority right up to the present day.

France, just like England, was characterized by the issue of the same coin in gold andsilver version. The historical change in the appearance and names of valuable coins was not so intense, however, the change of eras was directly reflected on the currency.

Chronology of the history of the French gold coin

The history of French gold coins looked something like this:

• XIV-XV century: franc. Rare and expensive.
• The end of the XIV-XV century: golden ecu (equal to 3 livres). "Change" francs remained in circulation.
• XVII-XVIII century: louis. Ecu is available in silver equivalent. Enlightenment money ratio: 1 louis=4 ecu=24 livres=240 soles.
• The end of the 18th century, the French Revolution: the return of the franc within the decimal money system. Appearance of the napoleondor (20 francs), double napoleondor (40 francs) and half napoleondor (10 francs). Francs of the era of Napoleon Bonaparte are also called "rooster" or "Marianne" (on the obverse is the head of Marianne, and on the reverse - a rooster) - this is a very valuable collectible coin of our time. Minted until 1914. Now issued in euro terms.
• Late 19th century: franc. It is the main one in several European countries (Latin Monetary Union).
• The first half of the 20th century: the rejection of the gold coin standard. However, the currency called "franc" lasted until 2002 and the introduction of the euro. Now gold francs are issued only in the collector's version.

Spanish Gold: Slight Golden Face Change

An old Spanish gold coin was born only in the 16th century under the name "gold escudo". The existence of gold coins in Spain is characterized by the greatest stability in comparison with France, and especially England.

Escudo minting was established during the reign of King Philip II. The ratio of coins in the monetary system of the monarchy was as follows: 1 escudo=400 maravedi, later 1 escudo=16 reais=544 maravedi.

A trip to history:

• XVI century: escudo, and also escudillo, which was equal to half an escudo.
• 18th century: gold doubloons (2 escudos).
• Early 19th century: 1 escudo equals 40 reais. Later, the silver escudo is temporarily the main currency. New copper, bronze and silver coins appear: centimos and pessetas.
• Late 19th - early 20th century: gold and silver denominations of 20, 25 and 100 pessetas are in circulation.

Today, euros of various designs are issued as gold collector's money in Spain.

Half the fortune for precious money

Numismatists buy and collect huge amounts of more or less valuable coin money. Old gold coins remain a serious target for the most devoted and passionate. Their price can vary from a few tens of dollars to hundreds of thousands.

The approximate value of the most valuable gold coins is shown in the table.

Country	Coin name	Year	Price in USD
England	crown	1935	45
	sovereign	1895	161
	crown	1821	207
	florin	1343	approx.600000
France	5 francs	1846	46
	5 francs	1867	108
	5 francs	1822	155
	napoleondor (20 francs)	1811	329
	double napoleondor (40 francs)	1803	740
	ecu	1774	500
	ecu	1792	517
	ecu (with 3 crowns)	1712	1878
Spain	5 pessets	1871	55
	5 pessets	1890	70
	half escudo	1826	234

For ignorant people, coins are just means of sale and purchase that have gone out of circulation, museum exhibits, echoes of history. Only a true passionate collector will say that they contain the soul of the world, the history of a particular country, people of a particular era. That this is a ticket to an imaginary time machine in which you can see the king and queen of Medieval France, Spanish pirates,English courtiers and poor servants. That they are a treasure not only material, but historical, cultural and spiritual. Antique gold coin - the highest numismatic value among collectors.