The world wide web

The world wide web created in 1989 and released in 1992, is now the most use full research tool ever created, for the first time in history every day people all around the world have access to massive archives, limitless encyclopedias and auctions with hundreds of millions of items.

If you step back for a second its hard not to realize we have easy access to things our grandparents and even parents only dreamt of.

It fascinates me to think that the simple things done online such as "internet communications" are changing the world as we know it. Its now easier than ever to educate yourself from home, through research and studies and its easy to find and purchase items from all over the world. Ten years ago, things were much different, the world has grown, so quickly, its hard to really notice how profound this change really is.

With every word and every item traded by individuals internationally, the world steps closer to being a global community, than ever before in man's history.

People all over the world are trading:
trading stories, pictures, music, history, culture and their knowledge.

Welcome to a new age, the age of Information.

www.canadiantradingpost.com

What is Numismatics?
An ancient perspective.

First of all I need to admit that I know very little about language and it's origins, but I have spent alot of time recently studying ancient coinage and mythology.

In Wikipedia* Numismatics is referred to as the scientific study of currency, coin collecting as well as "the hobby of kings". But nothing is really said about its origins or its meaning in the ancient world.

I believe that Numismatics can be broken down into two "root words"
NUMEN and MATICS

Numen is a Latin term for the power of either a deity or a spirit that is present in places and objects and was also associated with the terms for "command" or "divine majesty". and Matics is easily a root of mathematics.

SO by my logic NUMEN MATICS  would give us*
(fractional or mathematical equations for physical tokens of power and wealth)

From this perspective coinage in ancient times were tributes to all things powerful; local Gods, cults, monuments and Emperors were a common theme on most coinage. Coins also gave reference to the years of a ruler's reign as well as displays of political propaganda and historical myths.

Numen is also a word some would use to describe "Mana" or magic and in my opinion many coins were struck as offerings to individual pagan gods by the emperors. Perhaps to ask for protection and help in specific areas known to specific gods.

Alchemy and its implied "magic" in regards to changing base metals into precious metals;
speaks of the magic of learned and wealthy men in ancient times. Coins that are silver plated, washed or bimetal are perhaps evidence of this, ancient trickery or magic to the unlearned pagan man.

Precious metals as always were an important and scarce commodity in ancient times, a kingdom and a king could not survive without it. Soldiers would only go to war if paid in silver and gold and their weapons and armor needed to be made from the same bronze and base metals used in the "peoples" money. I can see why an ancient pagan would find it important to save "mana" just as any king.

The power or "value" of a kingdoms land must have been an important part of ancient war, and politics for any king. A kingdom without gold and bronze would be like a farmer without wheat and vegetables.

The ideology and symbolism behind minting coinage makes NUMEN MATICS suit my logic as to the origins or meaning of money.

As in anything, people need to buy into things before truly trusting and believing a system of power/trade. Involving religion was a natural and ingenious way of making things tangible amongst all people.

Even if its a Romantic Notion, its just my opinion.

NUMEN MATICS > an ancient perspective

Special thanks to the guys at the Ancient Coin Collector's Society on Facebook, and the Vancouver Ancient Coin Society, you guys have been more than a resource.

CHEERS
A.M
aka NUMIS MATICS ( on Facebook )

http://www.new.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=25088870966&view=all#/group.php?gid=25088870966

www.canadiantradingpost.com

What a daunting task thousands of years of history can present a mind. But like most things in life, if you take one step at a time great mountains can be climbed.

I started my research as broadly as I could. Starting with roman numerals and the greek alphabet. As I stumbled along this journey, I began printing small research binders and reference books to help keep track of the million and one facts I was sure to forget.

As I read very broadly about roman history and mythology, I read about random emperors as I encountered them in my uncleaned coins. It was kinda like the base of a great mountain or at least the idea of looking up at one and considering the climb.

The real beginning of the journey for me was the Constantine era, it offered some great historical stories and a wide variety of legend and reverse types.
The more common types being the most easy to learn to identify but also some of the most frustrating.

Constantine the great , Constantine II, Contans , Constantius Gallus and Constantius II all produced many of the same coin types and have similar legends variations. Coins like the FEL TEMP REPARATIO  or "falling horseman" were made by dozens of mints making these more common coins a huge hurdle or stepping stone for any beginner.

A quote from the arch of constantine best describes this phase of the journey for me
" INSTINCTV · DIVINITATIS · MENTIS · MAGNITVDINE  "
"by greatness of mind and by instinct ( or impulse) of divinity"
the strength to carry on towards the path set in mind < my interpretation

After this phase, coin attribution got a little easier but I still have much to learn. Some mornings things would just "click" and I started to see the small variations that in the beginning I missed.

Now being fascinated with the accuracy and history of ancient numismatic studies, I continued to research the Constantine era as I continued to learn to clean and attribute coins.

This was Definitely a period of great transition in the ancient world and a great way to learn about the beginning of the roman catholic church while still becoming familiar with a few pagan gods and symbols.

After grasping the Constantine era, and the cleaning process i began making small ancient coin purchases at online auctions and from ancient coin dealers.
The next path that called me was the Severan dynasty, I was lured by its provincial coins with all its snakes and angels. The symbolism and contrast to modern religion fascinated me.

This dynasty has a clear window into a very interesting and legendary family, the Severans: Septimius Severus his wife  Julia Domna and their sons Caracalla and Geta.

The stories and history of this dynasty seemed to hold a key not only a case study in dysfunctional families but as a dynasty, surrounded in ancient symbolism, cults, myths and legends. The strong serpentine cult imagery in Severan provincials coins offer answers and clues to a past now mostly hidden from public eye.

After a few months of searching and wandering "the mountain" I'm now easily finding dozens of great numismatic examples for study and extraordinary amounts of reference and reading materials of personal interest.
 
As a collector and as the owner of a new company I find myself at a new fork in the road.
Collecting ancients is not cheap and cleaning them every day has its effects on your hands and wrists. Realizing that I only have so much time and so much money is one of the biggest and humbling lessons thus far.

But as I say in the beginning of this blog  " if you take one step at a time great mountains can be climbed.  "

regards

A.Morrish aka NUMIS MATICS
www.canadiantradingpost.com

Hello fellow collectors,

I have recently begun serious research in the world of ancient coins. Having purchased many uncleaned coins as well as fully restored and attributed coins from fellow dealers. I have encountered several interesting coin types that i will be personally collecting and researching.

Because Ancient coins is such a HUGE market of collectibles, at first it was very overwhelming to try and learn to attribute coins. But as anything if you keep at it, the answers will slowly come to you.

I have posted a few photos of recent work.

http://www.canadiantradingpost.com/id30.html <<

Happy hunting

A.M
www.canadiantradingpost.com

   

    The newfoundland coin market is a small but aggressive one, because of very low mintage many newfoundland coins are heavily sought after and on the right day will catch a great price at auction.
   
    Coins like the 1946 nickel or the 1885 dime are becoming very hard to encounter let alone purchase. I often wonder how many complete sets are in private hands  with mintage as low as 2041 !  It's hard not to consider how rare a complete collection really is.

    As Canada grows and ages as a country these coins will become much harder to find, in my opinion the Newfoundland coin market is a great investment and an incredible adventure in canadian history that we should all experience. Newfoundland' s beauty and culture are well displayed throughout history and are reflected in these amazing coins.

 

regards,

Aaron M
OWNER/ OPERATOR
www.canadiantradingpost.com
admin@canadiantradingpost.com