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Exhibition from August 11, 2014 through October 6, 2014. The value of ancient coins lies not in their monetary value but in what they can teach us about the civilizations from which they came. Ancient coins from the Greek and Roman civilizations were original works of art with indications of when and where they were made. The marks on coins are some of the first examples of how these people portrayed their gods, heroes and historical events. They depict lost monuments of architecture, sculpture and painting. One of the greatest values lies in the coins that portray rulers, some of which are the only representations we have of these historical figures.

This exhibition of ancient coins donated to The Drexel Collection by Anthony J. Drexel Jr. in 1895 told the tale of cities and civilizations, chronicling the rise and fall of rulers and revealing the history of these ancient empires. In exploring the history and manufacture of coinage, the great importance of these small artifacts becomes clear.