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§ THE SCIENCE OF NUMISMATICS.
The science of Numismatics (from the Greek word νὁμυὁμα,
a legally current coin) embraces the study of the coins of all the
nations of the earth who have at any period impressed upon pieces of
metal--gold, silver, bronze, brass, copper, iron, tin, lead, etc.
etc.--any devices (_types_), or inscriptions, indicating that such
pieces of metal were issued by authority for public use as money.
Strictly speaking, the term Numismatics should not therefore be applied
to the study of medallions, medals, or counters, whether commemorative,
purely artistic, military, scholastic, etc., unless, as is sometimes
the case, such medals have been at the same time current as money.
The study of medals is, however, in many respects so nearly allied
to Numismatics that it may be and frequently is included in it for
convenience sake.
For practical purposes coins may be roughly classified under four
principal headings:--
{ Greek, etc.
I. Ancient, including { Roman, etc.
{ Phœnician, etc.