NGC Ancient & Medieval Coinage 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What term describes the technique of producing ancient coins by striking a metal blank between two engraved dies?
- Casting
- Hammered coinage (Correct answer)
- Electrolytic plating
- Die sinking
Correct answer: Hammered coinage
Hammered coinage, where a blank is struck between hand-held dies using a hammer, was the dominant method of coin production in ancient and medieval times.
Question 2: The tetradrachm was the principal large silver coin of which ancient civilization?
- Roman Republic
- Persian Empire
- Ancient Greece (Correct answer)
- Ptolemaic Egypt
Correct answer: Ancient Greece
The tetradrachm, worth four drachms, was the primary large silver denomination in ancient Greek city-states and successor kingdoms.
Question 3: In medieval European coinage, what is a 'billon' coin?
- A pure gold coin
- A large copper token
- A silver alloy with high base metal content (Correct answer)
- A double-struck error coin
Correct answer: A silver alloy with high base metal content
Billon refers to a low-grade silver alloy where base metal (usually copper) constitutes the majority of the coin's composition.
Question 4: Which Roman emperor first introduced the solidus as a standardized gold coin?
- Augustus
- Nero
- Constantine I (Correct answer)
- Diocletian
Correct answer: Constantine I
Constantine I introduced the solidus around 312 AD, which became the dominant gold coin of the Byzantine Empire for centuries.
Question 5: The obol was a small silver denomination in ancient Greece typically valued at what fraction of a drachm?
- One-half
- One-quarter
- One-sixth (Correct answer)
- One-eighth
Correct answer: One-sixth
Six obols equaled one drachm in the ancient Greek monetary system, making the obol one-sixth of a drachm.
Question 6: Which feature on a Byzantine coin typically identifies it as a 'nomisma histamenon'?
- A scyphate (cup-shaped) flan
- A flat, thin flan (Correct answer)
- A square clip
- A countermark on the reverse
Correct answer: A flat, thin flan
The histamenon nomisma was struck on a flat, thin flan, distinguishing it from the later scyphate (cup-shaped) tetarteron.
Question 7: What is the significance of the term 'exergue' in ancient coin studies?
- The raised border around a coin's edge
- The space below the main design, often containing a mint mark or date (Correct answer)
- The central portrait on the obverse
- The legend encircling the reverse design
Correct answer: The space below the main design, often containing a mint mark or date
The exergue is the lower segment of a coin's face, separated by a line, commonly used to place mint marks, dates, or officina letters.
NGC Ancient & Medieval Coinage 2
What term describes the technique of producing ancient coins by striking a metal blank between two engraved dies?