The history of warfare is about battles, strategies, and heroes, as well as it is also about fighting over resources, where coins played a key role in providing armies with everything they needed. This is why coins have not only physical value, but also a huge historical value. And even the smallest coin with a small denomination like the 1926 Buffalo Nickel has its own value and symbolism, reflecting an entire era. So, today we will look back in time to see how coins supported armies and became essential tools of survival and victory in different historical eras.
Ancient Armies and the First Coins
The first coins appeared around the 6th century BC in Lydia (the territory of modern-day Turkey). These coins made of electrum (a natural compound of gold and silver) were ideal for trade transactions, and they were soon used to pay armies.
Roman Legions and Their Coinage
The role of coins in ancient Rome was particularly interesting. Emperors realized that a satisfied army was a loyal army. Gold aureus and silver denarii were used to pay soldiers' salaries, and the coins were often accompanied by the emperor's image and symbols of victories. These coins also served a propaganda role, reminding soldiers and citizens of the power of the emperor.
Interesting fact: During the reign of Octavian Augustus on denarii began to depict the god Mars to inspire the army to conquer.
So, in the table below you may see some examples of ancient coins for armies.
Coin | Period | Metal | Assignment |
Lydian stater | VI century BC. | Electrum | Payment of mercenaries |
Roman aureus | I century BC. - III century A.D. | Gold | Salaries for soldiers |
Greek drachma | IV century BC. | Silver | Supply the army of Alexander the Great |
The Middle Ages: Coins for Knights and Crusaders
In the Middle Ages, when feudal states dominated, coins played a key role in financing military campaigns. This was especially evident during the Crusades, when huge armies were sent to Palestine.
Coins to finance the Crusades
Special coins were minted to raise funds, such as the grosso in Italy and the florin in Florence. These coins were used to pay for ships, weapons, and food. In addition, knights could buy back their participation in the campaign by paying the king or pope a significant amount of coins.
Interesting fact: During the Third Crusade, King Richard the Lionheart issued special silver coins to pay the army.
Redemption of knights
Coins also played an important role in freeing captives. For example, during the Hundred Years' War, French monarchs issued special coins to ransom captured knights.
In the table below you may see which coins were considered as a tool of diplomacy.
Event | Period | Coin | Objective |
First Crusade | 1096-1099 | Grosso | To raise funds for the army |
Ransom of King Richard | 1194 | Gold florin | Release from captivity |
Modern Times: The Coin Economic Revolution
The 17th and 18th centuries were an era of significant change in the conduct of warfare. Armies grew in size, artillery developed, and the scale of operations increased, all of which required enormous financial resources. With the emergence of regular armies, the role of coins increased significantly. Their use was no longer limited to paying salaries: coins became part of the economy of war, diplomacy and propaganda.
Napoleon and His Coins
Napoleon Bonaparte was an outstanding commander, but also a skillful economic strategist. Gold minted in the form of Napoleondors became a crucial element in financing his grand military campaigns.
What Are Napoleondors?
Napoleondors are gold coins issued in France beginning in 1803. They weighed 6.45 grams, contained 90% gold, and were in denominations of 20 and 40 francs.
Economic significance: Napoleondors were accepted in most countries in Europe due to their high gold content. They strengthened the French economy and were an instrument of international settlement.
Propaganda of greatness: The obverse of the coin depicted Napoleon's profile, while the reverse was decorated with symbols of power, such as a wreath of laurel or inscriptions emphasizing the strength of the French Empire.
Interesting Fact: Some early issues of Napoleondors depict Napoleon without a crown, which emphasized his “humanity”. After his coronation in 1804, his profile in a laurel wreath began to appear on coins, symbolizing the victorious emperor, in the spirit of ancient Roman traditions.
War of Independence
The War of Independence (1775-1783) presented the colonists with a serious problem: how to finance an army when they had no developed monetary system of their own?
Financial difficulties:
Lack of gold and silver: The colonies did not have enough precious metals to mint their own coins.
Use of foreign coins: The main means of payment at the time was Spanish dollars (pesos), which had high liquidity.
Paper money: The Continental Congress issued paper money - continental certificates - but it quickly depreciated due to hyperinflation.
Thus, coins played a key role in financing the U.S. War of Independence. Spanish dollars served as the primary means of payment for soldiers, including foreign specialists such as French officers. In addition, silver and gold coins were used by colonists to purchase arms, food, and uniforms abroad, stimulating the economy. At the same time, Britain used coins as a tool to bribe local leaders and neutrals in an attempt to weaken support for the revolutionaries.
The Economics of War: The Role of Coins in Military Conflict
Warfare requires huge financial outlays, and coins played a key role in providing them.
Examples of economic uses of coins are:
Paying the army. Coins ensured that soldiers received their pay, keeping them loyal.
Weapons production. Metals from coins could be melted down to create cannons and shells.
International settlements. During wars, coins were used to pay allies or to purchase resources.
Metals for coins during the war
Country | Period | Coin material | Cause |
USA | 1942-1945 | Copper and silver alloy | Shortage of nickel for weapons |
United Kingdom | World War I | Copper-zinc alloy | Economy of precious metals |
Germany | World War II | Aluminum and zinc | Shortage of traditional metals |
Coins in the Service of History
So, we saw that coins have always played an important role in the history of wars. They financed armies, as well as also served as a symbol of power, propaganda and strategic resource. And today, due to modern technologies, such as the Coin ID Scanner app, one is able to learn more about such coins. The app helps collectors and history buffs to identify, evaluate and study coins with a rich past in just a few moments. And if you have a couple of historically significant coins, learn a little more about them with the app and remember how war, economy and culture are closely connected.