International Coins

The son of Valentinian I and the nephew of Valens, Gratian ascended to the throne of the Western Empire in 375. The early years of his reign were successful, as he ruled with great energy, and enjoyed a sterling reputation on the battlefield.

Flavius Arcadius was the elder son of Emperor Theodosius I and Aelia Flaccilla. Like many children of Roman Emperors, he was vain and weak, spoiled by growing up in luxury. Arcadius died in 408 in his palace at Constantinople.

Flavius Arcadius was the elder son of Emperor Theodosius I and Aelia Flaccilla. Like many children of Roman Emperors, he was vain and weak, spoiled by growing up in luxury. Arcadius died in 408 in his palace at Constantinople.

Flavius Arcadius was the elder son of Emperor Theodosius I and Aelia Flaccilla. Like many children of Roman Emperors, he was vain and weak, spoiled by growing up in luxury. Arcadius, who was eighteen, was easily manipulated by a conniving Roman officer...

Himyar was a tribe that occupied the coastal region of modern-day Yemen what the Romans called Arabia Felix, or Fertile Arabia. The Himyarites coalesced into a kingdom by 110 BCE. In the first century AD, when this silver drachm was struck, the Himyar...

Hadrian s adopted son and heir, Antoninus Pius was notable for one reason: his pacifism. It was said of Antoninus that, not only did he never command an army in his 23 years on the throne, but he never so much as inspected a garrison. He built the Antonin

Anastatius came to the throne at the age of 61 after being chosen by the wife of his predecessor, Zeno. He is often recognized as the first Byzantine emperor. His reign was characterised by improvements in the government, economy, and bureaucracy in the...

Herod Agrippa I was the ruler of the Roman province of Juda during the crucifixion, which modern astronomers have calculated took place on Friday, April 3, 33 CE. A confederate of the deranged Roman Emperor Caligulawho believed himself to be the Jewish

By the time of his last visit to Jerusalem ca. AD 58, Paul of Tarsus had made enough enemies that his mere presence at the Temple instigated a riot. At the urging of the local Jewish leaders, he was arrested and sent to the provincial capital of...

Born in Hispania, the Roman Empress Aelia Flaccilla was the wife of Theodosius the Great and the mother of the emperors Arcadius and Honorius. Like her pious husband, she was a staunch Christian. The theologian Theodoret quoted her as saying: To...

Born in Hispania, the Roman Empress Aelia Flaccilla was the wife of Theodosius the Great and the mother of the emperors Arcadius and Honorius. Like her pious husband, she was a staunch Christian. The theologian Theodoret quoted her as saying: To...

Aelia Eudoxia was the wife of the Roman Emporor Arcadius. The controversial marriage was arranged by a court eunuch called Eutropius, whom she later had executed. One of her sons took the throne as Theodosius II. She died during childbirth in the year...

The brave action of young King Peter II played a vital role in influencing the outcome of World War II, causing Germany’s defeat at the hands of the Allies. --Peter II Kara?or?evi? of Yugoslavia was only 11 years old when he became heir apparent to...

The VOC or the Dutch East India Company was one of the most powerful commercial enterprises that ever existed. These four coins feature coats of arms of four Dutch provinces, and circulated in the Spice Islands from 1726-94.

Raiders, pagans, barbarians, explorers--the Vikings have worn many hats throughout history (unfortunately, none actually had horns). Ever since their attack on a peaceful monastery at Lindisfarne in 793, they have been associated violence and savagery...

Few historical figures have achieved the national standing of Philippe Pétain at the end of the Great War. Even fewer have squandered the achievement so ignominiously. In a quarter century, he went from beloved war hero to traitor; only his long...

When is a nickel not a nickel? From 1942-45. The United States declared war on Imperial Japan on December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor, and on Nazi Germany three days later thus officially entering World War II. During wartime, certain metals,...

These 10 hryven coins were struck in 2021—the year before Russia’s illegal and ill-fated invasion of Ukraine—by the National Bank of Ukraine, as part of a set of collectible issues, honoring the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On the reverse...

The year this coin was minted, 1687, was witness to the turning point, the moment when the Ottoman Empire's expansion into Europe was forever reversed.

This set of Turkish coins issued in 2002 was designed by the Turkish Mint to commemorate subjects of great interest to the Turkish people. It was also the last of the inflationary coins.

These four inflationary notes circulated in Afghanistan during the reign of the Taliban.

Five coins and five banknotes issued by Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia (1949-66), a demagogue responsible for the death of four million of his countrymen.

Born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili in what is today Georgia, Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) is arguably the most prolific mass murderer in history. He had a hand in the 1907 Tiflis bank robbery, the Great Famine of 1932-3, and the brutal Great Purge of...

The Bolshevik revolutionary-turned-dictator Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1953. He was arguably the most prolific mass murderer in history. This set contains one White Russian banknote; and one "death sentence" silver...

First century CE Indo-Greek Kushan bronze tetradrachm featuring portrait of King Vima I Takto.

Thousand-year-old bronze cash coin, issued during by the Northern Song Dynasty in China.

The bull and horse design on this silver coin was used as a template by both Muslim and Hindu rulers for six centuries.

This crude silver kopek was issued during the reign of Peter the Great (1682-1725). The coins were struck by taking a piece of silver wire, cutting it to the proper weight, then smashing it between dies.

Among the last issues of the Soviet Union, this album contains a 1 ruble banknote and eight coins issued between 1961-91.

The two banknotes in this collection circulated in Russia during the years of American military engagement after the Armistice that ended the First World War: 1918-22.

Bronze coin issued by Constantine's sons shows a bust of their late father wearing a shroud. On the reverse, Constantine the Great rides a chariot drawn by four horses, as the Hand of God reaches down from on high to receive him in Heaven.

Commemorative bronze coins of Constantine the Great featuring their respective helmeted city goddess with the legends CONSTAN/TINOPOLIS or VRBS ROMA.

Gladiators and gods, aqueducts and Augustuses, togas and triumvirates, legions and lions: fifteen centuries after the fall, Rome remains fixed in the popular culture—and for good reason. For five full centuries, from the ascension of Caesar...

Maximilien Robespierre The Incorruptible to his allies; dictator sanguinaria to his opponents was a French lawyer and statesman: arguably the most influential, and inarguably the most controversial, figure of the French Revolution. He supported radical...

When put to the test by the Pharisees, Jesus famously answers the question of taxation. The story is related in all three synoptic gospels; in Matthew 21:15-22: Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their...

This Third Reich 1 Reichspfennig coin, was struck in zinc, and features the Nazi swastika.

This copper kopek coin was issued during the reign of Nicholas II, when Rasputin enjoyed enormous influence over the Romanov royal family.

A prolific author, a bold theologian, and a saintly presence, John Paul II was hailed as the great by his successor, Benedict XVI, upon his death in 2005. The epithet has stuck, and he is now known as John Paul the Great. He was beatified in 2011 and...

A very scarce bronze 1/2 Centennials coin minted for a brief period, to commemorate the 1100th anniversary celebration of the founding of the old city of Rome. Issued in the names of Constantius II and Constans, the coins depict the phoenix bird.

At the time of his death at age 46, Philip II was the most successful king Macedon had produced: streamlining the military, consolidating power, and successfully defeating the Spartans, the Scythians, and the Achaemenids. When he was stabbed to death on...