Coin
a piece of metal on which certain characters are stamped by authority, giving the piece a certain legal current value. Homer speaks of brass money, 1184 B. C. The invention of coin is ascribed to the Lydians, whose money was of gold and silver. Both were coined by Pheidon, tyrant of Argos, about 862 B. C. Money was coined at Rome under Servius Tullius, about 573 B. C. The most ancient known coins are Macedonian of the 5th century B. C.
Brass money only was in use at Rome previous to 269 B. C. (when Fabius Pictor coined silver). Gold was coined 206 в. c. Iron money was used in Sparta, and iron and tin in Britain. In the earlier days of Rome the heads were these of deities, or of those who had re- 1 1. Coin of Dalmatius KAION AYNAN 2 ANCIENT COINS 2. Coin of Cos.
Burns. The word is also used as a fan- ceived divine honors. Julius Cæsar first ciful designation for Scotland. obtained permission of the Senate to place his portrait on the coins, and the