| In order to understand what wealth can mean to | | | | another perspective, namely, a wealth of |
| a numismatist, it's a good idea to start by defining | | | | knowledge about an ancient civilization. |
| numismatics for those of us, who have not come | | | | Numismatics and Wealth from the Modern-Day |
| across this term before. The definition of | | | | Perspective: |
| numismatics is the study or collection of coins, | | | | In modern-day society, another meaning of |
| money, and often medals. Therefore, a | | | | wealth to the numismatist is the investment in |
| numismatist is the person who studies or collects | | | | rare coins, simply because it can be very |
| coins, money, or medals. Numismatics did not | | | | profitable. In America, as soon as coins were |
| start as a unique field of study until during the | | | | produced domestically, coin collecting took place. |
| European Renaissance, when archaeologists would | | | | Certainly, the investment in rare coins is |
| utilize coins as consistently datable evidence. This | | | | considered a sound investment and such |
| meant that numismatics could work as a parallel | | | | investments are even featured in the Wall Street |
| science to history, because the coins would often | | | | Journal and Money Magazine. For capital |
| demonstrate the political, social, economic and | | | | appreciation purposes, financial planners |
| cultural elements of a country, as depicted by the | | | | recommend that a portion of a person's wealth |
| inscriptions, images and features of the coins. | | | | should be invested in rare coins and precious |
| Numismatics can provide its followers with unique | | | | metals. Having a portfolio of rare coins and/or |
| opportunities to invest in rare coins, which are a | | | | medals is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also, |
| safe and highly investable market, a discussion | | | | on a long-term basis, guaranteed to represent a |
| point worthy of note later in this article, together | | | | very safe investment, as there is always an |
| with an invitation to join a Numismatic network. | | | | inherent demand for rare coins. The definition of |
| Therefore, as fascinating as it is to study this | | | | "rare" from a numismatic point of view can mean |
| science from its different aspects, it is even more | | | | a relatively low mintage, a relatively low survival |
| interesting to first review the following story of | | | | rate or simply a demand for a particular coin. As |
| ancient Bactria (now known as Afghanistan and | | | | coin collecting has been around since ancient |
| the former Soviet republics of Central Asia), | | | | times, it was inevitable that the growth of |
| which highlights the immeasurable wealth of | | | | numismatists would lead to the establishment of |
| numismatics and provides a colorful background to | | | | the American Numismatic Society in 1858. |
| this science. | | | | Most people who are interested in numismatics |
| Ancient Bactria from a Numismatic Perspective: | | | | are keen to know how much it costs to invest in |
| Back in 330 BC, Alexander the Great and his | | | | a rare coin. In America, the cost of a rare coin |
| Macedonian army sought to conquer ancient | | | | can start from $300 to $7,000,000. As scary as |
| Bactria. It was arguably his most arduous | | | | this may appear, it has to be added that the |
| campaign and the 13,000 Greek soldiers, who | | | | general price for high quality rare coins is from |
| were left behind by Alexander to colonize the | | | | $1,000 - $25,000. After all, there are few people |
| lands found their task very difficult. For those | | | | who can afford to invest hundreds of thousands |
| soldiers who did actually remain, they faced the | | | | of dollars in a rare coin, but there are many of us |
| amazing prospect of connecting the existing, | | | | who can manage to acquire an affordable |
| disparate cultures of India, Iran, China and Greece. | | | | portfolio of rare coins. Once we understand the |
| Unfortunately, this extraordinary story of | | | | cost, many people would like to know where rare |
| transition in Bactria after Alexander the Great left | | | | coins can be purchased. |
| has sadly disappeared. Enter the numismatists! | | | | Rare coins are often for sale through private |
| Thanks to the conscientious efforts of | | | | dealers, auctions, coin shows or expositions. |
| numismatic experts and amateurs from all over | | | | Certainly, attending such auctions or coin shows |
| the world, starting predominantly in 1738 onwards, | | | | can help the novice numismatist to find out more |
| ancient Bactria has been resurrected through the | | | | about the value of coins and can increase one's |
| discovery of its ancient coins. These many | | | | knowledge of numismatics. Once an individual has |
| thousands of unearthed coins depict the names | | | | bought a rare coin, it is satisfying to know that |
| and images of nearly 40 monarchs who ruled | | | | rare coins are more liquid than other collectibles, |
| Bactria and India, following Alexander's departure. | | | | such as, art or stamps. If a motivated seller |
| It is worth remembering that Alexander the | | | | wishes to sell a rare coin, then he can expect to |
| Great spread the use of coins amidst his various | | | | sell it within hours or within a few days at the |
| kingdoms. In this instance, one can safely say that | | | | most. In America, the IRS does not need to be |
| "Money talks", because these precious coins have | | | | informed of purchases or sales by rare coin |
| brought to life ancient monarchs including | | | | dealers and rare coins and bullion perform better |
| Antimachus ("The God") and Agathocles ("The | | | | when inflation is on the rise. All of this information |
| Just"), who would have remained unknown had | | | | serves to demonstrate that rare coins are an |
| these coins not been found. Even today, | | | | excellent investment, which can assist the |
| numismatists are still discovering new coin types, | | | | numismatist in wealth acquisition. In brief, a single, |
| sometimes displaying images of known kings and | | | | small rare coin can have a concentrated wealth of |
| sometimes with images of unknown kings. The | | | | thousands of dollars, tens of thousands, or even |
| coins provide an expressive testimonial to the | | | | millions of dollars! There are few collectibles that |
| political, social, military and religious life of the | | | | can boast this type of value. It has been said that |
| people, who made these coins, which enables | | | | over the past 40 years, rare coins and bullion |
| historians to piece together life in Bactria. | | | | have reliably and consistently out-performed |
| Undoubtedly, a numismatist would argue that each | | | | almost every major equity index, even amidst |
| coin represents a text. Even so, this socio-cultural | | | | worrying economic conditions. |
| complexity presents our historians with an | | | | Conclusion: |
| ever-challenging task of collating the history of | | | | Numismatics has an appeal on many levels, but |
| Bactria into some semblance of order. Assuredly, | | | | especially because it has helped to piece together |
| the numismatist will state that through the silver | | | | the background of ancient civilisations including |
| and gold of these ancient coins, the Bactrian | | | | Bactria. Additionally, the numismatist can acquire a |
| history during the period of the Greek colonization | | | | very pleasing collection or portfolio of rare coins, |
| can be told from start to finish. Such a statement | | | | which is rarely dented by adverse economic |
| illustrates that numismatics provides wealth from | | | | conditions. |