Numismatics

Numismatics is a science about coins. It’s an auxiliary discipline studying the history of coinage and money circulation. It derives from the Greek word “nomos” meaning law, legal currency and derivative “nomisma” meaning coin. Coins collecting originated in Europe in the époque of Renaissance primarily in Italy and then in the other countries. At the same time emerged the first works explaining image and inscriptions. The founder of systematic scientific research in numismatics is considered Austrian scientist Ekkel I.I. (1737-1798), the author of eight-volume work “Science on ancient coins” published in Vienna in the last decade of the XVIII century.