A coin (v. lat. moneta) is a usually round (more rarely also poured) currency coined/shaped made of metal.

Reason for the

Coins had, because they were coined/shaped from precious metals, opposite the goods a higher stability of value. The reason lies in it that the value of the precious metal was affected by supply and demand only by the scarceness as well as, not however as with goods by a value purge lying in the commodity. (A roll is ungeniessbar after some time, piece precious metal changes its characteristics by bare nothing doing however only insignificantly).

History of the coined money

Beginnings in Asia and Greece

The oldest has probably China. Already in the 3. Millenium before Christ gave it there pieces of copper in the form of swords, spades and dresses, with which it possibly already concerned credit money. From this small, poured copper coins developed. Silver was converted not to coins, but acted as ingot.

The first coins of the antique ones became about 2000 v. Chr. in the Mediterranean area uses. It acted thereby around domestic animal miniatures out of bronze. The first coins became of the Lydern between 650 and approx. 620 v. Chr. as currencies given change. It concerned shapeless breaking of fused gold dust into, which were used in only one size for the payment of pay and which the royal seal carried. Figurative representations on coins came around 620 v. Chr. up. Afterwards coins in gold in different sizes and values followed. The first silver coins became around 550 v. Chr. in small Asia and on the island Aegina coined/shaped.

To approximately 400 v. Chr. the coin in completely Greece became generally accepted in relation to the bartering. However there was no uniform monetary system, but several regions, in which a dominated in each case. Slowly however the 17 gram heavy attische Tetradrachmon with its fractional coins (Obolos) and larger units developed a dominating position.

The representation of rulers on coins became generally accepted in the Greek area and in the diadochus realms only after Alexander the large one. Silver remained the determining raw material, only for smaller fractional coins came slowly copper into use.

'' See also: OldGreek currency

Roman coins

The first coins of the Roman republic originate from that 3. Century before Christ and from copper or bronze were struck, the large, a Pound of heavy pieces of copper (Aes grave) were poured. As motive all early Roman coins on the back carry a hull, which should remind of the conquest of the fleet of Antium, and on the front different God pictures. The first Roman silver coin became against 269 v. Chr. struck. The silver coinage on a large scale set in Rome however around 187 v. Chr. with the Denar. Julius Caesar was the first living person, which was illustrated on a Roman coin.

In the Kaiser era coins from gold (Aureus) were struck, silver (Denar) brass (Sesterz and Dupondius) as well as copper (As). Altogether the Roman coinage among the emperors purged appreciably. The eastRoman coins separated fast from the realm-Roman models and developed their own stylistic idiom.

The Germanic states of the people migration time coined/shaped partial coins, which oriented themselves either at the west or at the eastRoman model.

'' See also: Roman currency

The Middle Ages

From late ancient times to the early Middle Ages the circulation of coins decreased/went back in Europe strongly. The bartering increased and larger cash transactions with metal was often settled. The few coins were usually copies of the Roman models. In the Frankish realm and its successor oaks the Denar or Pfennig almost was excluding coined/shaped coin. However the originally royal right of coining money in the holy Roman realm expanded dignitaries increasingly on further lay and religious, which entailed a multiplicity to different versions of the Pfennig and a general decrease of the Silbergehalts of the coins.

Of center 12. Century to in 14. Century were nearly in all German-speaking countries (with exception of the Rhine country) Brakteaten the prevailing specie of money. These thin, on one side coined/shaped silver Pfennig coins set certain-ate the process of the decrease in weight of the old Pfennigs away. Brakteaten became occasionally "of ill repute", i.e. for invalid explains and by their owners back-demanded, in order to exchange them against a smaller quantity new coins. The anticipated payment could amount to up to 25%. This was a then usual form of the taxation.

Gold coins were struck only rarely in the early and the high Middle Ages. Only in 13. Intensified gold coinages used century. This development proceeded from the Italian commercial towns. In France and England gold coins were further common and the individual pieces clearly larger than in the realm. As the further development 13. Century arose in Germany of the groschens as the larger silver coin. The of the groschen showed for the first time strengthened also princes of the respective territory.

In the German right of coining money the year 1356 was a crucial date, when the emperor with a "golden one recognized bull" the right of coining money of the cure princes expressly. From this time to 1871 the was coined/shaped in Germany of large varieties, since many states spent their own money.

See also: Coins of the Middle Ages

Modern times

In the the modern times begin with the developing of the Talers. For the first time 1484 were struck under victory mouth by Tirol a large silver coin, the Uncialis or Guldiner. This coin was the model for the Taler coined/shaped in the Joachimsthal, which spread in the following centuries over the whole world. The Taler represents the first case of a complete separation of all models of preceding Since its production spread fast over the most diverse Terriotrien, the respective national gentlemen gave "its" Talern an individual organization, which achieved a high quality in the process of the technical and artistic progress. Occasionally also Doppeltaler were struck. Starting from that 17. Century arose as new motive city opinions.

The multiplicity of small coins below the Talers lost increasingly in metal quality. This development reached its high point in the dump truck and Wipperzeit, during the war. With the silver gulden a new and sturdy small coin arose in Germany starting from 1690. In addition 17 became in. Century for the first time since late ancient times again copper coins coined/shaped. For the conversion of larger money supplies the golden Dukaten became generally accepted.

Arab names for European coins, which were common in Arab states by the Levantehandel, are decorating surnames, which concern thereby usually the Thus the Maria Theresien Taler Abu Kush (father of the bird) or Abu Noukte (father of the beads) was called, since an eagle and/or beads on the Diadem of the empress was to be seen. The Netherlands was called Abu Kelb (father of the dog), the Spanish piece of eight-material with vierfeldigem coat of arms sign Abu Taka (father of the window).

Altogether the process similarly running off of the depreciation showed up again and again in the into the modern times: While money consisted initially in the form of coins of valuable material (gold, silver) and its exchange value the value of this material corresponded (adequate coins), late coins was manufactured, whose materials value was under their exchange value, by making the coins smaller and easier or of an alloy from valuable and lower-value material made it (coins below value).

Further see under money.

Characteristics of coins

Coins are currencies struck by the state approved and. Modern coins carry usually on the right of shown characteristics. But there are also exceptions: Thus Swiss black horse (subunit Swiss Franconia) carry only the nominal, without indication of the currency. It is still more drastic with the British Crowns of the embossing years 1965-1971. These carry neither a nominal nor the indication of the currency. Like all British coins they do not even carry a state designation. Only the illustration of Elizabeth II. lets suspect, from where the coin comes.

The front (the Avers) of the coin is, where usually the head of the ruler, and/or which is to be seen coats of arms of the republic, the back (the written undertaking) however, where the declared value is.

Demarcation to medals

While the expenditure of coins is a privilege of the state, medals may be manufactured also by private side. which never when legal tender were intended, always the medals added. The so-called pseudo coins represent an intermediate thing, which de jure currencies are, but were coined/shaped by private businesses for the international collecting tank market and in fact no money function to have. Turned around also Gepr¤ge exists such as emergency coins and Jetons, which are actually used as currencies, but were given change not by the national places entitled to it.

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