The American Numismatic Society recently launched “CoinHoards,” an online linked open data tool for research in ancient Greek numismatics and ancient economies.
The platform provides primary data and other information on 2,387 hoards of coins produced by Greeks and other non-Roman peoples in the Mediterranean and adjacent regions between circa 650 BCE and 30 BCE.
In addition to a basic description, users will find mapping tools for each “findspot” and mint where the respective hoard’s coins were produced; bibliographical references; and a list of the hoard contents. These tools will allow users to compare and contrast the circulation patterns of coinage in various parts of the Mediterranean world over time.
“The launch of CoinHoards is a remarkable step forward in our ability to trace circulation patterns of ancient coinage and thereby gain greater insight into patterns of trade and other types of economic interaction,” says Peter van Alfen, project co-director. “This new website allows users to conduct in-depth research on scores of related hoards and their contents in just a few minutes, saving hours or even days of research time.”