Ancient Coins (Leather Portfolios)

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 laterthus 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.