Ancient Coins
As Artistic Evidence

Coins of the Ancient world give an intresting insight to the period they represent.  However, establishing the date of the coin may cause problems.  Often Roman coins are easier to date than Greek coins because they actually have the year of mint stamped on them.  Undated coins are given aproximate dates by the names or events present on them.  Many times these approximate dates are more accurate than any other means because they are verified by other coins which have similar markings.  Unfortunately, some of these dates have been discovered inaccurate and thus the context of the coin changes.  Modern scholars have begun reevaluating the old dates by comparing the events depicted with new information.  Carbon dating would give the age of the metal not the date of the striking of the coin and thus new techniques must be employed. 

The study of coinage becomes important for a number of reasons.  Coins are the only source of uninterrupted artistic representations throughout the early Greek world.  Generally there exist several coins representing the same motif, thus allowing for a clearer interpretation of what is represented.  The coins also show an insight to the beliefs and practices of the time by showing what was significant enough to the people to be depicted on their currency.  To us this is a distinction held only by presidents and founding fathers.  (RLC)