What is the Study of Coins Called?
Answer: The study of collecting the coins and analysing them is termed numismatics. It decodes the meaning behind tokens, paper money, and other similar objects.
Keeping a collection of coins is one of the oldest hobbies in the world. The collection and study of coins that began after the mid 17th century are called Modern numismatics. Machine-struck coins were introduced in this period.
Amateurs instead of scholars are known to follow the methods of modern numismatics. Collectors are looked after more than historians in the case of modern numismatics.
Specialisation of Numismatics-
Exonumia
Coins like subjects are inspected and analysed under exonumia. Medals and token coins are examples. Military medals are also studied and analysed in this field.
Notaphily
Banknotes and paper money is analysed in this field of numismatics.
Scripophily
It is the study of securities. Bonds and stock certificates are analysed. The issue of a stock certificate is a very old practice and that is why this study is harder to engage in than others
Time and money are spent on the research of coins to determine their rarity and production. The physical properties of the coins, production technology, and the historical background of the currency are studied under numismatics.
A rare collection of coins can be more valued than actual money and is seen as an investment. There are several clubs and societies that support the study of numismatics.
Under numismatics, the physical attributes of money are analysed rather than the flow and function of money in the economy. The term is used interchangeably with coin collections.
The study of numismatics began during the European Renaissance to rediscover all the classical material from that era.
The American Numismatics Society founded in 1858 is an organisation that fosters the study of coins and collectables.