Ancient Coins
Introduction
The Harvard Art Museums’ coin collection is distinguished among university collections of its kind. It began in 1895 with a gift from Charles Eliot Norton and has since grown—through bequests, gifts, and acquisitions—to more than 20,000 coins. Most of the coins are Greek, Roman, and Byzantine and date from around 650 BCE to 1453 CE. The collection serves as a powerfully effective teaching tool for ancient history, art history, culture, and politics.