Greek Gold Coins

Greek gold coins, a small piece of history

The first gold coins created in Greece appeared around 600 bc. These coins are known as the archaic type. They were actually made of a mixture of metals that included approximately 55% gold, 45% silver and about 1-2% copper. These first coins sported few features and were more commonly, simply punched, they often had the head of a lion on the opposing side of the punch.

Many of the first gold Greek coins were rarely symmetrical, often with varying designs and weights, but as the process improved the coins began to develop symbols that represented the cities that minted them, and later patron animals of the Gods, such as bees, turtles and owls. This era of coinage was the classical period, the coins became flatter and rounder, sporting much more detail in their personified artwork.

The distinct differences in the many styles of these coins depended upon the poleis, or self governed Greek city, that had minted the coin. Each had its own original design and often its own diverse style to represent the wealth or belief of the province. As the monetary units approached the Hellenistic period they grew distinct in size shape and weight, this proved to keep the currencies' worth adamant as the trade market expanded.

Ancient gold Greek coins allow a glimpse of the changes that arose throughout the Greek era.