Alloy coin in the shape of a dolphin, minted in Olbia on the Black Sea, 5th century BCE
subject: Alloy coin in the shape of a dolphin, minted in Olbia on the Black Sea, 5th century BCE
creator: Olbia, Black Sea, Ancient Greece
publisher: The British Museum, Coins and Medals, 1929,1013.47

Chinese copper alloy coin, minted under the Tang Dynasty in 621 CE
subject: Chinese copper alloy coin, minted under the Tang Dynasty in 621 CE
description: Inscription content: 開元通寶 Inscription transliteration: Kaiyuan tongbao
creator: Tang Dynasty, China
publisher: The British Museum, 1884,0511.723

Coppery alloy currency axe-blade, used by the Aztecs in Ancient Mexico, 1200 - 1521
subject: Coppery alloy currency axe-blade, used by the Aztecs in Ancient Mexico, 1200 - 1521
rights: The British Museum, Africa, Oceania and the Americas, Am1943,06.107

Cowrie money, used in the Kingdom of Bambara, Africa
subject: Cowrie money, used in the Kingdom of Bambara, Africa
description: Cowrie money, used in the Kingdom of Bambara, Africa
creator: Kingdom of Bambara, Africa
rights: The British Museum, SSB,155.4

Asante Gold Cowrie Shell, Ghana, Asante Region, Africa, 19th century
subject: Hollow lost wax casting in gold of a bead in the shape of a cowrie shell (sedee). The central dome of the shell and the underside are decorated with transverse lines. The shell has a single circular suspension hole cast at one end.
description: Cowries throughout Africa are symbols of wealth and well-being and, in some parts of West Africa, were used as a form of currency. In Akan communities cast gold cowrie shells were worn by high-status individuals such as the Asantehene, paramount chiefs, royal wives and children as part of anklets, bracelets, necklaces and sandal ornaments to signify that they had access to great wealth.
creator: Ghana, Asante Region
source: Found during the excavations of the Royal Palace at Kumase
publisher: The British Museum, Af,Ash.51

Chinese "fake" banknote, issued for rituals, otherwise called "hell money"
subject: Funerary equipment; made of paper; in the form of bundle of hell money; white paper printed with multicoloured designs: on front image of Chinese man at right, man with stick followed by three children at left, "8000000000" in top left corner, Chinese characters in right corners; on back Chinese characters across top, "8000000000" in bottom left corner, "HELL BANK NOTE" in bottom right corner, image of buildings at centre; wrapped in plastic.
creator: Singapore, South Asia, 2000s
rights: © The Trustees of the British Museum, 278159001
format: Paper money

Byzantine Pectoral with Coins and Pseudo-Medallion ca. 539–50
subject: Byzantine Pectoral with Coins and Pseudo-Medallion ca. 539–50
description: Neck rings, such as this imposing gold example, are cited in early sources as playing a role both in the glorification of military heroes and in coronation ceremonies. This pectoral necklace is composed of a plain, hollow neck ring attached to a frame set with a large central medallion flanked by coins and two small decorative disks. Although it was found in Egypt, the pectoral is believed to have been made in Constantinople, since a personification of that city is depicted on the reverse of the central medallion. The front of the medallion and the smaller coins depict Byzantine emperors. The two ribbed rings at the pectoral's lower edge once held a large medallion of the emperor Theodosius I. This imperial imagery suggests that the pectoral is composed of a collection of military trophies that once belonged to a distinguished general or a member of the imperial court.
creator: Byzantine Empire
rights: Metropolitan Museum, NYC, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 Accession Number: 17.190.1664
format: Gold, niello Overall dimensions: 9 7/16 x 8 5/8 x 5/8 in. (23.9 x 21.9 x 1.6 cm) ring: 19 11/16 x 3/8 in. (50 x 1 cm)

Stater of Aegina, Ancient Greece, 400 BCE-333 BCE
subject: Silver Stater of Aegina, Ancient Greece, 400 BCE-333 BCE
creator: Ancient Greek Polis of Aegina, 400 BCE-333 BCE
publisher: Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Frederick M. Watkins
rights: Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Frederick M. Watkins, 1972.177

Money Lender
subject: Dwight C. Sturges, American (Charlestown, Mass. 1874 - 1940 Boston, Mass.), Money Lender
description: Print, American, 1938
creator: Dwight C. Sturges, American (Charlestown, Mass. 1874 - 1940 Boston, Mass.)
publisher: Harvard Art Museums, Modern and Contemporary Art
date: Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of Mrs. William Simes, 1938
type: Print, Etching
identifier: Harvard Art Museums, M9495

Silver Tetradrachm of Ptolemy I Soter, minted in Egypt (r. 323-285 BCE)
subject: Silver Tetradrachm of Ptolemy I Soter, minted in Egypt (r. 323-285 BCE)
description: Silver Tetradrachm of Ptolemy I Soter, minted in Egypt (r. 323-285 BCE) Obv.: Head of Alexander in lion skin and aegis r., with horns of Zeus Ammon; dotted border. Rev.: Athena Alkidemos, r., holding spear and shield; to r., an eagle clutching thunderbolt r.; border of dots; to l., W in circle; to r., Delta Iota
creator: Ptolemy I Soter, Pharaoh of Egypt
rights: Harvard Art Museums, Trustees for Harvard University
type: Coin