numismatics
Research and Collectible Books | ACADIA Global Scholars Distribution Initiative
Research and books on collectibles are the backbone of any reputable historical collection; they are the product of a scientific methodology developed by a researcher or author who has dedicated years to documentation and analysis. Whether you are an academic researcher seeking to document heritage, or a serious collector looking for references to enhance your collection, well-documented research and books on collectibles are the only guarantee of the authenticity and value of historical artifacts. Today, the Arab Collector website announces…
April 18, 2026Minted in Cairo: Documenting the history of Cairo through coins
Can a small coin encapsulate the history of an entire empire? In his new book, "Mined in Cairo," published by Dar Al-Maaref, researcher Mohamed Abdel Hamid takes us on a research journey to prove that coins were not merely a means of purchase, but rather a "news ticker" documenting the events of Cairo since the early Islamic era. The book, "Mined in Cairo: Coins and History," by researcher Mohamed Abdel Hamid…
March 8, 2026Numismatics for Beginners: Start Collecting Coins with Confidence
If you've ever held an old coin and felt it was different—a little heavier, an unusual color, or bearing an unfamiliar date—you've already taken your first steps into the world of numismatics without even realizing it. Numismatics, simply put, is the study of coins (and sometimes banknotes and medals) in terms of their history, minting, rarity, condition, and all the subtle details that make them unique.
March 7, 2026Russian platinum coins
The discovery of platinum in Siberia: Platinum was discovered in Siberia, in Tsarist Russia, in 1819, and economically viable quantities were found in 1824. Newly developed mining methods enabled Russia to obtain large quantities, making it one of the world's largest exporters and prompting Russian monetary authorities to consider using platinum in minting coins. Why…
February 21, 2026Siege money: When palace ingots become soldiers' currency
Siege money, also known as "necessity money," is an interesting aspect of monetary history. These coins were issued during times of war or invasion, particularly when a city or town was under siege. The need for such money arose from the disruption of monetary circulation during wartime, leading to a scarcity of coins in circulation.
February 21, 2026Sale of the Danish West Indies
In a previous post, we posed a question about a currency from the Danish West Indies and its connection to Greenland and the United States. In today's post, we'll recount an interesting chapter of history—a chapter that will help us better understand the present and Trump's claims to annex Greenland, which is under Danish control. Let's begin with the West Indies... The West Indies: An Economic Resource…
February 20, 2026Egyptian civilization on American currency
The secret of the engraved design inspired by Egypt: In 1908, two denominations of American gold coins, the $5 and $2.50, were introduced with a new design inspired by and intended to honor Native American culture. These coins became known as the Half and Quarter Eagles (the ten-dollar bill was called the Eagle, hence the five-dollar coin was called the Half Eagle and the 2.5-dollar coin the Quarter Eagle, while…)
February 20, 2026Personal union in history
We have all heard of instances where two or more countries unite, voluntarily or by force, to form a single state. Personal unions have occurred in our modern Arab history; for example, Syria and Egypt entered into a merger in 1958, forming the United Arab Republic. Our article today discusses another form of this union, one usually associated with a monarchical system of government, and whose core element is…
February 20, 2026British East India Company
The Founding of the Company and its Military Influence: Today we will learn about the company that minted coins in its name and possessed an army larger than that of the country it came from. It is the East India Company. Often referred to as the EIC, the East India Company was a British trading company founded in 1600. The East India Company played a crucial role in the history of trade, colonialism, and the global economy.
February 20, 2026Commemorative foundation coins: treasures buried beneath parliaments
While most coins are made for circulation and exchange among people, some coins are minted so that people never use them, or even see them. They are buried as soon as they are made and disappear from sight. In today's article, we will learn about a special category of commemorative coins called foundation coins (foundations of buildings) buried beneath the floors of parliaments, cathedrals, and palaces around the world…
February 20, 2026The crescent moon on coins
In celebration of the holy month of Ramadan and the sighting of its blessed crescent moon, let us examine the crescent on coins issued in Egypt throughout Islamic history and before. First, we must understand that the crescent is a symbol used on various types of coins, some Islamic and many others non-Islamic. We have chosen a notable example: a Mamluk fils (coin) of Sultan al-Mansur Ala' al-Din Ali ibn...
February 19, 2026The difference between numismatics, philately, and paper currency
Introduction: Numismatics, philately, and banknotes are often confused because all three fields rely on seemingly similar tangible materials such as coins, stamps, and banknotes. However, each is an independent field of knowledge with its own subject matter, methodology, and research questions. This article aims to clarify the fundamental differences between these disciplines and explain…
February 6, 2026Notaphily
Introduction: Notaphily is a specialized field of knowledge that studies banknotes as official documents issued by monetary authorities, reflecting integrated economic, sovereign, and administrative systems. This field is not limited to collecting or acquiring banknotes, but rather examines them as analytical tools for understanding the evolution of monetary systems, the building of financial trust, and political and economic transformations within countries. This discipline arose…
February 6, 2026Notgeld… German emergency money
When money loses its meaning and images speak, the seasoned collector of banknotes is not drawn to nominal value or mere rarity alone, but to that kind of currency that seems to defy convention and carries an exceptional story. What truly fascinates him is the "unusual"; the note that is not merely a forgotten medium of exchange, but transforms…
January 17, 2026Important terms about coins
We occasionally encounter terms related to coins, and some of these concepts may not be readily understood. Therefore, we decided to create this page to serve as a permanent reference for most of these terms. We will update it regularly to make it an important resource for researchers and coin enthusiasts. We will present these concepts and terms in bullet points to facilitate searching…
May 25, 2022