Author Description

The exhibition catalogue for When Coinage Was Born - Treasures from the Zhuyuetang Collection (held at the Royal Spanish Mint from June 2025 through June 2026) showcases 148 coins illustrating the development of early coinage around the Mediterranean Sea. The many spectacular coins of the Zhuyuetang Collection provide a deep dive into the wonderful world of Archaic Greek numismatic imagery, so different from the aesthetic language of later Hellenistic and Roman coins, and a vivid tableau of monsters, gods, heroes, and animals. More than a mere assortment of metal objects, these coins tell stories from 2500 years ago about war and international conflict, natural disasters, communities, religion, wealth, and much more. Printed in full color with over 180 images and text masterfully researched and written by two of the leading scholars in Archaic Greek numismatics.