World Coins

Which coins are considered world coins?

The term "world coins" generally refers to all coins minted after the Middle Ages, i.e. from around the 16th century to the present day. These coins are normally classified according to the countries or empires in which they were issued.

Which are the most famous medieval coins?

Among the most important and historically significant medieval coins are the florin, the ducat and the franc. The florin is a gold coin that appeared in Florence in 1252, featuring the figure of Saint John on the obverse and a fleur-de-lis on the reverse. As a result of the city's commercial strength, the coin spread rapidly throughout Europe, influencing the issues of other regions to the extent that cities in Austria, Hungary and the Netherlands minted their own florins. The word florin came to be synonymous with gold coinage and has remained a monetary term to the present day. The franc was minted in France in 1360 and its name means both French and free. It was created as a gold coin and eventually came to denote the French monetary unit the introduction of the euro. Finally, the ducat was introduced in the 13th century in Venice. It was widely used in trade and known for its high gold content and design featuring the image of St. Mark.

Which world coins can you buy at Vcoins?

At VCoins, you can find coins from all over the world and different periods. In the world coins section, you will be able to purchase European, American, Asian and Oceanic coins, as well as Germanic, Medieval and Islamic coins. From the Gothic tribes of Germany to the doges of Venice and the Italian States, to the "one from every country" collector, we offer everything from low-priced coins to certified, high-grade rarities. Moreover, you can find paper money, mint and proof sets and all the books you need to help you learn more about the topics you enjoy.

Germanic coins

Germanic coins were minted during the early medieval period, between the 5th and 8th centuries, by the Germanic tribes, which included the Goths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Franks, Merovingians and Visigoths. Initially, their coins copied those of the Roman emperors, especially the gold coins (solidus and tremisses), but later they developed their own style and the rulers began to put their names on their coins. They were also heavily influenced by the coins minted in the Byzantine Empire, the successor to the Roman Empire in the eastern part of the Mediterranean.

Medieval coins

Medieval coins were minted throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, from the 5th century to the 15th century. They were issued by various authorities, including monarchs, princes, and religious institutions. Some of the most common ones were gold coins such as the Byzantine solidus and the Merovingian tremissis and, later on, the English noble, the Venetian ducat and the florin of Florence. Silver coins were also widely used, including the penny of England, the denier of France, and the groschen of Germany. Copper or bronze coins were in circulation as well, such as the Spanish maravedi, and the Italian quattrino. In the Mediterranean region, Islamic coins such as the dirham and dinar were frequently used currencies.

Islamic coins

Islamic coins were minted in the Muslim world from the 7th century onwards. The earliest Islamic coins were inspired by Byzantine coins and some of them depict images of the caliph, but these themes were soon banished in favour of epigraphic types, i.e. inscriptions with verses from the Qur'an and the names of rulers. The gold monetary unit was the dinar, which was first minted during the reign of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 8th century. The dinar was widely used and imitated currency throughout the Mediterranean in the early Middle Ages. The silver coin was called the dirham which was introduced during the reign of the Umayyad Caliphate in the 7th century.

African coins

Most African civilizations did not know currency until the arrival of Europeans. For commercial exchanges, they used what we know as pre-monetary currencies, which could be objects such as shells, feathers, cocoa, salt, etc. One of these objects was the so-called manillas, a kind of metal bracelets that were highly prized and used extensively in the slave trade. During the colonial period, many African countries began using coins that were issued by European colonial powers, such as the French franc or the British pound. However, some of them began to introduce their own coins after gaining independence in the mid-20th century.

Asian coins

Asian coins have a rich history, with many different civilizations and empires producing their own coins over the centuries. Some of the earliest date back to ancient civilizations such as the Maurya Empire in India and the Zhou dynasty in China. The latter is one of the places where currency was born and where the first banknotes were created. During the Middle Ages, various empires and kingdoms minted their coins, including the Tang dynasty in China, the Abbasid Caliphate in the Middle East, and the Srivijaya Empire in Southeast Asia. However, during the colonial era, many Asian countries used coins issued by European colonial powers, and, after gaining independence in the mid-20th century, they began to issue their own coins once again. During this period, the circulation of Spanish pieces of 8, which were resealed to circulate in China, is noteworthy.

Australian and Oceanian coins

The history of Australian and Oceanian coins is relatively short since the region was largely isolated from the rest of the world until modern times. During the early colonial period, many European countries established colonies and began to use their coins. For example, the British pound was used as currency in Australia. As various nations in the region gained independence, they began to issue their own coins, such as the New Zealand pound (1840), the Australian pound (1910), the Fijian dollar (1969), and the Papua New Guinean kina (1975). In the 1960s and 1970s, many countries decimalized their currency, replacing pounds, shillings, and pence with dollars and cents. For example, the Australian dollar was introduced in 1966, followed by the New Zealand dollar in 1967.

Central and South American

Before colonization, indigenous cultures used various forms of pre-monetary currency, including gold and silver ornaments, cacao beans, and feathers. After Columbus' arrival in America, most of the territory became part of the Spanish Empire, so Spanish currency began to circulate there, with the real and the escudo as monetary units. This currency was mainly minted in the American territories with the silver and gold extracted from their mines. Something similar happened in Brazil, which was part of the Portuguese Empire. In the early 19th century, various countries gained independence and began to issue their own coins, which were inspired by the Spanish ones. In the 20th century, many underwent periods of political and economic instability. As a result, they introduced new currency systems, often pegged to the US dollar.

Who is in charge of classifying world coins at VCoins?

The coins available at VCoins are graded by each store, which counts with their own team of experts. However, before they are uploaded to the platform both the store and its items are reviewed by our numismatic experts to make sure the coins are correctly classified.