Images

The woman may be a member of the imperial family. She is known from other portraits, but can not be individually identified. Roman, circa 160-170 CE. From the Pourtalès Collection. (The British Museum, London).

A portrait of the founder of the Goryeo kingdom of Korea, Taejo, formerly known as Wang Geon (r. 918-943 CE).

A copy of the Samguk Sagi ('History of the Three Kingdoms'), a 12th century CE text written by Gim Busik which is considered the first history of Korea.

This hoard contained 23 bars of gold, several bars of silver, rings, pieces of scrap, and a silver figurine. The pieces were cut for specific transactions or other reasons, but not to conform to a weight standard. In making payments, it was...

This silver tetradrachm coin belonged to Seleucus I. Reign of Seleucus I Nicator, 305-281 BCE. From Seleucid Syria. Donated by the Bank of England. (The British Museum, London).

Both coins were minted in Alexandria, modern-day Egypt. The left coin was minted in 137-136 BCE while the right one in 133-132 BCE. In ancient Egypt, many transactions were made in metal, measured using certain weights. Once coinage was introduced...

Early Indian coins were made by cutting sheets of silver into pieces and marking each piece with one or more symbols using small punches. As there are no portraits or inscriptions, the coins are now known by numbers. This coin, for example...

This Kushan coin depicts a goddess of prosperity seated on a throne; this goddess was known to the Kushans as Ardochsho. Almost all late Kushan coins used the design of a seated goddess, and the Kushan Emperors produced these coins in large...

This silver coin was minted in Kabul, modern-day Afghanistan, about 500-450 BCE. (The British Museum, London).

Coin from Kashi, modern-day Northern India, 500-400 BCE. When a coin was first issued, it would have the marks of the issuing authority. Money changers (shroffs) then marked coins to show they were acceptable. Sometimes a coin would...