Roman currency holds an enduring fascination for the modern student of the history of hard money. Sure, it’s about famous coins, precious metals and debasement. But it’s also about power, trade and economic might on a scale the ancient world had never seen. The denarius was the cornerstone of commerce in the ancient world for […]
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Out of all the physical commodities mankind ever used as money, gold was the pinnacle. It fulfils all the properties something requires to be considered sound money. It is: Because it has those properties gold has functioned as an effective store of value, medium of exchange and unit of account for thousands of years. Gold
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Bitcoin SV emerged from one of the most contentious disputes in Bitcoin’s history. Bitcoin Cash hard forked from Bitcoin, with Bitcoin SV then hard forking from Bitcoin Cash. This was the era of the block size wars, an intense debate about scaling, protocol governance and the identity and future of Bitcoin itself. If you want
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The history of American gold coins is a fascinating numismatic journey over two and a half centuries. From the first Liberty Cap eagles of 1795 to the modern American Gold Eagle of the fiat era, the story of America’s coinage tells a story about the economic journey of the nation. Whether you are interested in
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One frequent criticism of the gold standard is that it caused the Great Depression. And that the recovery only happened because the tie to gold was severed by FDR in 1933. The argument says that gold was a handbrake on money creation and that stimulus was necessary to avoid a deflationary spiral. This has become
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Did you know there are actually 6 different types of gold standard? These are: All are significant in the history of gold. You often hear people mention the gold standard. Perhaps you even throw that term around yourself from time to time. It’s helpful to know the nuances of each if you ever enter into
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In 211BC the silver denarius became the dominant monetary unit of the Roman Republic. In 211BC the denarius had a silver content of 4.5g with 95% fineness. By the time the it had finished its decline the silver content of the denarius was a mere 2%. The silver content of a Roman denarius depends on
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Key Takeaways The silver shekel is the most ancient form of precious metal money in recorded history. Its origins lie in Ancient Sumer where it was a reserve currency and a standard pricing measure. The silver shekel is also mentioned in the Book of Genesis as a measure of weight. So on both accounts it’s
If you have ever held a Roman denarius in your hand, you’ve touched a significant piece of monetary history. The silver denarius is the coin that once powered what is arguably the world’s greatest empire and is one of the most famous silver coins in history. But how much is a Roman denarius worth in today’s
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Key Takeaways Silver certificates are a historic form of currency in the United States, issued between 1878 and 1965. Originally able to be exchanged for silver bullion, they are still legal tender, but can no longer be converted into the precious metal. Today, silver certificates are likely to have a collectible value that far exceeds
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