The Making of Coins explores the economic and technological history of ancient coinage, revealing how these small objects reflect the broader economic, political, and social structures of ancient civilizations. The book highlights the ingenuity involved in ancient coin minting, from metal extraction to die engraving, and examines the constant struggle to maintain the value of coins, a struggle still relevant today. Intriguingly, the book uncovers the techniques used to detect counterfeiting, illustrating the ongoing battle between trust and deception in monetary systems. The book uniquely combines numismatic analysis with cutting-edge archaeometallurgy, using techniques like X-ray fluorescence to analyze the elemental composition of ancient coins.
Structured in three parts, it first details coin production techniques, then examines methods used to control metal content and value, and finally investigates the history of counterfeiting. This approach offers a comprehensive understanding of how ancient economies functioned and the challenges they faced.
