Archaeology of Coins, Money, and Economics

The minor in Archaeology of Coinage, Money, and Economy in Classical Antiquity focuses on two key institutions that are essential for understanding the Greek-Roman world and its peripheral regions. This course is not limited to a specific era; instead, coinage/money and economy are examined diachronically over a long period of approximately 1,100 years, from the first coins minted around 600 BCE to the end of the Western Roman Empire shortly before 500 CE. This study program is unique in Germany.

Coins, a historically late form of money in the shape of small, portable metal pieces minted according to specific weight and purity standards, were introduced around 600 BCE in Asia Minor. The use of money, however, is much older, with various goods serving as money in their roles as measures of value, mediums of exchange, payment instruments, and means of hoarding. Coin minting was part of the actions taken by rulers and communities through the institutions and officials responsible for it. Economic activity in antiquity was not fundamentally dependent on coinage but was supported by it—for example, during the Roman Imperial period—enabling investments, loans, specialization, increased production volumes, and extensive exchange networks. Combining coinage, money, and economy in a single field of study thus offers excellent opportunities to explore decisive developments and connections diachronically.

The sources studied in the Archaeology of Coinage, Money, and Economy in Classical Antiquity are highly diverse. They include objects of material culture such as coins, ceramics, and items made of metal or stone, as well as written records. Texts by ancient authors, inscriptions of both official and private nature, and papyri are examined. Even the imagery on coins "speaks."

The minor in Archaeology of Coinage, Money, and Economy is designed to enable students to independently work with the diverse range of sources in a methodologically appropriate manner, critically assess and classify different types of sources, and analyze specific scholarly debates as exemplified by selected examples. Students will also develop their own research questions in this context. Particular emphasis is placed on the acquisition of key skills in oral and written communication.

The boundaries of the field of Archaeology of Coinage, Money, and Economy with other disciplines in classical studies, such as Classical Archaeology, Prehistoric and Early History Archaeology, Archaeology and History of the Roman Provinces, or Ancient History, are fluid, as the relevant source material partially overlaps. Distinctions and clearer contours for this field arise from its thematic focus pursued diachronically, preferred types of sources, applied methods, and specific research questions.

The minor in Archaeology of Coinage, Money, and Economy in Classical Antiquity complements the respective bachelor’s major in a meaningful way by providing interdisciplinary key skills and knowledge across a suitably broad area of study. The primary focus is on developing the ability for independent and critical scholarly research, which supports access to a wide range of potential career paths.

For more information about the minor in Archaeology of Coinage, Money, and Economy, please visit the department’s webpage.