Robert Bracey

The coinage of the Kushan kings (1st to 4th centuries) and of their immediate successors the Sasanian Kushanshahs (3rd-4th centuries) and the Kidarite Hun Kushanshahs (4th-5th centuries) are a key component of our understanding of the history of ancient Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan during the early centuries AD. Modern knowledge of each of these kingdoms began with the discovery of their coins. Research continues to reveal new aspects of the political structure of these states, their geographical extent, the religious affinities of their rulers and the development of scripts and languages in the region. This landmark publication will give a comprehensive account of Kushan, Kushano-Sasanian and Kidarite Hun coinages, as well as put them into a wider historical and cultural context.

Money has always been a subject of interest, today more so than ever. For centuries it has performed a key role around the globe most obviously in trade and the economy, but also in the development of national identities, religions and the spread of empire. Introduced as measurements of weight to serve the most basic of functions, these currencies have changed appearance and meaning throughout the ages and developed into complex monetary units we know today. This engaging book tells the story of ten of the world's most important currencies and reveals how each and every one of them ha s helped shape the world we live in. With a brief but informative biography of each of the currencies, it reveals where and how each originated, the various roles they performed, and how they spread, survived and changed over the years. Some may have fallen into disuse but they might also have been revived in new and unexpected forms, and in different locations. Charting the rise and fall of each, the book will look at how the movements, developments and designs of currencies can highlight broader themes of history such as the characteristics of empire, trade and migration and the personalities of kings and rulers and how they can be identified as barometer s for the political fortunes of a nation. Packed full of facts and interesting stories, and thoughtfully illustrated with images from the British Museum and beyond, Old Gold to New Money is an illuminating account of world currencies and the crucial role they play in our world.