Allen G. Berman

Bought, Sold, Appraised & Attributed since 1981 - Curious inquiries always welcome!

P O Box 605, Faifield CT 06824  Phone: 845-434-6090

Web site:  www.bermania.com   Email:  agberman@aol.com

There are few civilized societies over the past 2,000 years which have not left us coins, or some similar means of exchange, as touch pieces of their traditions and their culture. Coins are the point of contact where an ancient Roman merchant and a Professor in Vancouver, or where a peasant during the Bolshevik Revolution and 21st century American entrepreneur meet.

As a hobby, coin collecting is not only intellectually stimulating, it is a pursuit suited to any budget from $10 per month to $10,000 per month depending on one's tastes. As a teaching aid, it brings the excitement of earlier cultures into the classroom, providing instant "hands on" stimulus for students who don't fully grasp the reality of the past they are studying.

Coins are one of the few examples of ancient or medieval artifacts to have been mass produced in the modern sense. They are a readily available primary source, reflecting history in a variety of fields. Each coin is capable of reflecting cultural, political, economic, and technological trends. Most are also capable of indicating the social, religious, and ethical ideals of the people who created them. For the ancient and medieval periods they are perhaps the only primary source common enough to be widely dispersed among the population without being reproduced artificially.