What Is Numismatics?

The study of the physical embodiment of various payment media (i.e. currencies). The study of numismatics as it applies to coins is often in the research of the production and use of the coins to determine their rarity. Numismatics has many subfields, including but not limited to:

Notaphily - the study of paper money (i.e. bank notes)

Exonumia - the study of coin-like items such as medals used in place of currency

Scripophily - the study of securities (i.e. stocks and bonds)

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Understanding Numismatics

Numismatics differs from historical and economic studies of money. Numismatists study the physical attributes of the payment media rather than the use and development. Numismatics also differs from coin collecting due to the scientific research involved. It could be said that all numismatists are coin collectors, but not all coin collectors are numismatists. It is widely believed that numismatics began during the European Renaissance, as part of an effort to re-discover all things classical.

The first English usage of the word “numismatics” was in 1829, stemming from the word adjective numismatic, which translates to "of coins”, and stemmed from the French word “numismatiques”, which itself derived from the Latin word “numismatis”.

There are numerous societies dedicated to the study, research and advancement of numismatics sciences. For example, The American Numismatic Society, founded in New York City in 1858, was created to foster public appreciation of coins, medals, and currencies, and has since cultivated more than 800,000 objects dating from 650 BCE, and boasts a numismatic library, with some 100,000 books and artifacts. Other numismatic organizations include:

Ancient Coins Collectors Guild

Archaeological Institute of America

The Canadian Numismatic Association

The Czech Numismatic Society

International Numismatic Commission/Commission Internationale de Numismatique

The Israel Numismatic Society

Oriental Numismatic Society

The Professional Numismatists Guild

The Royal Numismatic Society

The Numismatic Association of Australia

The Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand

Numismatic Fun Facts