This volume was prompted by the recent discovery in Britain of two large coin hoards dating from the first decade of the fourth century AD – Wold Newton and Rauceby. Coins of this early Tetrarchic period are relatively uncommon finds in Britain and elsewhere, due mainly to the brevity of their periods of issue followed by successive reductions in the weight of the coinage. The book also republishes the 1944 Fyfield hoard within the context of these more recent finds and contains preliminary reports on two very large hoards of coins of the same period that have been found in recent years in France (Juillac) and Spain (Tomares).The Tetrarchic system of rule (AD 293−c. 313) was initiated by the Roman Emperor Diocletian to stabilise the Roman Empire, with the rule of the western and eastern Empire being split between two senior emperors and their two junior colleagues. The transition from the third to fourth century AD is a pivotal phase in the history of Roman Britain, with Britain coming once again under the control of the Empire following periods of turbulence and usurper rule between AD 260−296. Under the Tetrarchy, Britain was subjected to the extensive monetary reforms undertaken by Diocletian which saw the introduction of the denomination now referred to as the nummus. The period is of particular interest to numismatists as during this time Roman coinage was minted in Britain at the mint of London. The volume therefore covers not just the hoards themselves, but also considers the wider significance of these hoards for Britain and the early fourth century monetary economy, particularly in the western empire.

The coinage of the Kushan kings (1st to 4th centuries) and of their immediate successors the Sasanian Kushanshahs (3rd−4th centuries) and the Kidarite Hun Kushanshahs (4th−5th centuries) are a key component of our understanding of the history of ancient Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan during the early centuries AD. Modern knowledge of each of these kingdoms began with the discovery of their coins. Research continues to reveal new aspects of the political structure of these states, their geographical extent, the religious affinities of their rulers and the development of scripts and languages in the region.   This landmark publication will give a comprehensive account of Kushan, Kushano-Sasanian and Kidarite Hun coinages, as well as put them into a wider historical and cultural context.

This volume provides an authoritative and systematic account of the coins minted for Roman Egypt between AD 138 and 192. It is the first of four volumes, which will cover the provincial coinage of this crucial period of Roman history in its entirety.The coinage in this volume was produced at Alexandria, the commercial and cultural capital of the eastern Mediterranean. It is dated by the year, making it an invaluable guide to imperial presentation and to economic developments during this transitional period. Its iconography is of exceptional interest to scholars and collectors, combining fascinating aspects of Greek, Roman and Egyptian culture.The book gives a complete picture of the material, meeting the needs of numismatists and providing an essential reference for historians, archaeologists and other students of the Roman empire. The introductory chapters and extensive catalogue are accompanied by illustrations of virtually all known types.

Coins of England and the United Kingdom Pre-Decimal and Decimal volumes comprise the Standard Catalogue of British Coins, with the decimal issues under Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III listed in this separate volume. The 10th edition is of note as it contains all coins minted during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, also introducing the new coinage of King Charles III.The Decimal Issues gives a comprehensive overview of all individual coins and sets issued by the Royal Mint since 1971 (and in circulation since 1968), offering an authoritative catalogue of modern British coins.

This historic reference work for British coins is still the only catalogue to feature every major coin type from Celtic to the Decimal coinage of Queen Elizabeth II, arranged in chronological order and divided into metals under each reign, then into coinages, denominations and varieties. All decimal coinage since 1968 is listed in a separate volume, available as an independent publication.

The second volume of this brand new comprehensive guide covers every type of English gold coin from 1816 onwards and includes many new varieties, along with rarity values, arranged by monarch. Accompanying Bull reference numbers are again cross-referenced to the Standard Catalogue of British Coins.

The peoples of pre-Roman Britain remain an enigma. Our perceptions are shaped by two narratives, that of contemporary Roman colonists and more recent Celtic nationalists, who vilify and glorify them in equal measure. The more we learn, the less we know with certainty: should they be described as ‘Celtic peoples’, were they organised into the ‘tribes’ that later formed Roman administrative districts (civitas) and, beyond a few famous names like Cunobelinus (Shakespeare’s Cymbeline), were they led by ‘kings’ or ‘chieftains’? The coins from this period are no less controversial. Britain was a late adopter of coinage, initially importing coins from the Gallo-Belgic continent and then copying their Macedonian-inspired prototypes. Britain also produced them for longer than the continent, latterly incorporating themes and imagery from Rome. These bookends of external influence have led some to dismiss the coins of pre-Roman Britain (and indeed ‘Celtic’ coins generally) as inferior. The most compelling counter to this is the coins themselves, explored through the theme of Art or Imitation? What we find is extraordinary variety and originality, that makes a powerful case for their collection and study.

The second volume of David R Sear’s comprehensive guide to ancient coins – part of Spink’s Living History series – covers Hellenistic Regal Issues.   A general background to the fascinating world of ancient coins, looking back more than 26 centuries to the lands of the eastern Mediterranean, at how coins were designed and produced, and at how they can reveal so much to us today of the time in which they were produced.

From the earliest of times, coins have been used by states or monarchs to communicate with people; Coins of England is therefore not only a reference book for collectors, but a fascinating snapshot of British history, illuminating its economics, technology, art, politics and religion. As always, the content has been updated and improved throughout by the editors, with numerous new images, revisions of key sections and several thousand price changes reflecting activity in the market over the previous year.   This historic reference work for British coins is still the only catalogue to feature every major coin type from Celtic to the Decimal coinage of Queen Elizabeth II, arranged in chronological order and divided into metals under each reign, then into coinages, denominations and varieties. All decimal coinage since 1968 is listed in a second, stand-alone volume.   The catalogue includes up-to-date values for every coin, a beginner’s guide to coin collecting, numismatic terms explained and historical information about each British coin, from our earliest (Celtic) coins, Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Norman coins, the coins of the Plantagenet Kings, the Houses of Lancaster and York, the Tudors and Stuarts, to the more modern Milled coinage, minted for the first time in 1561 during the reign of Elizabeth I.    

This volume presents for the first time an authoritative and systematic account of the coins minted in the Roman provinces between AD 238 and 244 (except the province of Asia, previously covered in volume VII.1), and shows how these coins can be regarded as an integral part of the coinage minted under the Roman emperors. The book gives a complete picture of the material, thereby not only meeting the needs of numismatists but also providing an essential reference for historians, archaeologists and other students of the Roman empire.The introductory essays and extensive catalogue section are followed by indexes and an illustration of every major issue listed.

This is the first book to explore the history of the field of Chinese numismatics from both Eastern and Western perspectives. With upwards of 100 illustrations, it consists of three papers that complement each other beautifully and give a sound introduction to the beginnings of the study of Chinese numismatics, focusing on the 19th century:   A Short History of Chinese Numismatics in Western Languages – Helen Wang A run-through of publications on Chinese numismatics to 1900 – giving information about the authors, their occupations, motivations and areas of interest. A good background to the subject, and includes information on where to find bibliographies etc.   Currencies of Ancient China from their Origins to the Late Empire – Francois Thierry, translated from the French by Helen Wang and Lyce Jankowski Also the title of Francois Theirry’s award-winning book, published in 2017 – the result of having worked for decades as the curator of Asian coins in Paris. The author notes how Europeans sometimes understood Chinese money and sometimes got it completely wrong.   Numismatic Friendship: Social Networks of Numismatists and Coin Collectors During the Late Qing Dynasty – Lyce Jankowski, translated from the French by Lyce Jankowski and Helen Wang Also the title of the author’s book published in 2018, and a very important piece of work. It shows the world of Chinese collectors of Chinese coins, their networks and motivations.

This comprehensive catalogue, which has been worked on by the authors over several years, covers all known Sikh Copper, Silver and Gold Mohurs, including much unpublished material, with photographs of each; coins of the Cis-Sutlej States, with photographs of all Sikh states (Patiala, Nabha, Khaital) plus additional details on MalerKotla; medals issued to Sikhs from the 1840s to 1947; and Sikh Temple Tokens, Medallions and Commemorative Coins issued since the 1800s. It is the most up-to-date and authoritative book on the subject, and an essential addition to the library of any collector interested in this fascinating area of coinage.

Mary Gillick, née Tutin (1881-1965), is probably best remembered for the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that appeared on UK coins from the beginning of her reign until decimalisation in 1971. This book focuses on her career as a sculptor and medallist - a career that had begun at Nottingham School of Art and the Royal College of Art and had already spanned more than fifty years when she experienced the sudden burst of national fame that came with the royal commission. Gillick’s work combines the influence of early Italian Renaissance medals with an appreciation of modernism and shows a readiness to adapt as she responded to changes in the art market. Her experience also adds to the debate on the impact on women of marriages between artists (she was married to sculptor Ernest Gillick from 1905, until his death in 1951) and the choices open to women sculptors of her time. This is the very first study of such an iconic British artist to be published, and is sure to attract the attention of both numismatists and anyone interested in the history of British art alike.

Ecoinomics is designed to equip the reader with a full working knowledge of the global numismatic market and how it differs from country to country; it details the various factors which contribute to the value of a coin, as well as different collecting practices (such as third-party grading in the US).   Covering the range of costs and benefits involved with keeping a substantial amount of capital in coins, including performance over time, market trends, tax and insurance, Ecoinomics aims to give the reader the confidence to buy coins and to begin participating in the numismatic market.   "Robert Parkinson has written an interesting and informative guide that explains many of the most important topics in numismatics. This book will serve as a valuable resource for new and experienced collectors alike." Max Spiegel, President, Certified Collectibles Group / NGC    

This new edition of the SPINK MAURY catalogue, heir to the prestigious Maury, Ceres and Dallay catalogues, continues its research work into stamps from 1849 to 1960, and varieties after 1960. It includes hundreds of changes, new varieties and discoveries, all beautifully presented, with unrivalled levels of detail for each stamp.  The monographic studies are continued, each stamp presented on its own page for all known varieties.   France has some of the most beautiful stamps in the world, and the Spink Maury catalogue is aims to present these comprehensively to an international audience.   'Layout and coverage are sumptuous ... The trite phrase "mine of information" does not begin to do justice to this immense achievement. To any collector of France beyond the elementary stage, this would be a bargain at twice the official retail price ... Highly recommended ... an absolute must for collectors of French stamps…' - Michael Round, Journal of the France - Colonies Philatelic Society  

In its significance for both Islam and Christianity, and ultimately the wider world, the fall of Constantinople on 29 May 1453 was to herald the dawn of the early modern period and bring universal recognition to the man forever known as Mehmet the Conqueror, or Sultan Mehmet II (1432-1481); who at the age of twenty-one had brought the millennium-old Byzantine empire to an end.   The very improbability of such an accomplishment, after many failed attempts on Constantinople by different factions over the centuries, was to only add to Mehmet’s growing status; while his quest for territorial acquisition over the following twenty-five years, in the establishment of an Ottoman empire, was to place this dynastic family on the international stage, where they would remain a significant political force over the following five centuries.   Little material evidence has survived from the formative period of Mehmet's life, and certainly nothing of any direct significance such as a portrait. However, Mehmet had an enduring interest in that genre, though it was naturally assumed that after an absence of more than five centuries a portrait of the young sultan in any form had simply not survived the intervening period.   The appearance of a circular portrait relief of the sultan was thus to be of more than passing interest, given the youthfulness of the turbaned Muslim sitter, who was immediately identifiable as Mehmet the Conqueror from both his modelled bronze relief profile and the titles encircling his portrait, addressing its subject in Latin as the 'Great Prince and Great Emir, Sultan Master Mehmet' - Magnus Princeps et Magnus Amiras Sultanus DNS [= Dominus] Mehomet.   The willingness of Mehmet to commit his imperial vision to the hands of a western artist at such an early period of his life is at the heart of this extraordinary episode, which embraces the looming extinction of the millennium-old empire of Byzantium, an expanding Ottoman political enterprise and the fall of Constantinople itself. It represents a fusion between east and west that is without parallel in the mid-fifteenth century.   Indeed, so directly can the commission of the bronze relief be linked with Mehmet that beyond the revelation of his youthful, and enigmatic, portrait is the remarkable sense of an event of historic proportions, now viewable through the eyes of the protagonist himself.