Does Greece make gold coins?

Greek Drachma 20 gold coins are steeped in history and since Greece reverted to the Euro in 2002, no longer produce drachma. Given these iconic coins date back the 9th Century they have a story to tell. The drachma inspired the current monetary system and enables countries to trade with one another all over the world.

Was gold common in ancient Greece?

In Ancient Greece, gold coins were rare because gold itself was rare and hard to find. The Greek cities that minted gold coins were usually from Asia Minor and had commercial contacts with the rich Persian Empire, from were they brought the gold.

How did Greeks get gold?

By the time of the death of Alexander of Macedon (323 B.C.), the Greeks had mined gold from the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar) all the way eastward to Asia Minor and Egypt, and we find traces of their placer mines today.

What currency did Sparta use?

drachma, silver coin of ancient Greece, dating from about the mid-6th century bc, and the former monetary unit of modern Greece. The drachma was one of the world’s earliest coins. Its name derives from the Greek verb meaning “to grasp,” and its original value was equivalent to that of a handful of arrows.

Is drachma still used in Greece?

In 2002 the drachma ceased to be legal tender after the euro, the monetary unit of the European Union, became Greece’s sole currency.

Where did Romans find gold?

First found at surface level near rivers in Asia Minor such as the Pactolus in Lydia, gold was also mined underground from 2000 BCE by the Egyptians and later by the Romans in Africa, Portugal and Spain. There is also evidence that the Romans smelted gold particles from ores such as iron pyrites.

What kind of coins were used in ancient Greece?

Greek copper-nickel 5 drachmes (1971) with a portrait of Constantine II (1964-1973), the last king of Greece. Greek copper-nickel 100 drachmes (1994) with a portrait of Alexander the Great wearing the horns of Ammon. Modern Greek coinage often looks back to the ancient past.

What is the oldest coin in the world?

Ancient Greek Coins Greek Coinage is some of the oldest coinage known to man. While a surprising amount of these coin have survived until today, the variety among them is amazing. Most coins bear heavy wear and circulation, but some have survived the millennia in amazing condition.

What is the history of coins of the world?

Coins of the World. World coinage reveals the dramatic history of the 20th century. Wars and revolutions, the collapse of European colonial empires, and the decline of Soviet-style communism led to the creation of new independent states, almost all of which issue their own coins. This new money promotes political ideologies

What was the minting process of Greek coins?

Ancient Minting Process of Greek Coins. While the process varied slightly from various City-States and Mints, a design was engraved on a piece of copper and set in an anvil and another was engraved in a punch. A metal blank would be placed on the anvil by a worke, and then the punch would be hammered onto the top.