Early Greek coin from Athens, Greece. Obverse shows a faint portrait of the goddess Athena head right with a Corinthian helmet. Reverse shows Apollo, helmeted and holding a long spear in his left hand and a bird in his right.

Coin from the Sassanian Empire in Persia, showing a profile bust of Khosrau II with two standing figures and symbols on reverse.

Imperial Antoninianus coin of Constantine I (the Great) showing on obverse the emperor bust right; the reverse has a laurel wreath.

Coin from the Byzantine Empire of Nicaea of an unknown emperor standing facing front with uncertain objects. Estimated date of ca. 1258 CE.

Coin from the Byzantine Empire, very likely from the reign of Basill II, bearing a faint front-facing bust of Jesus Christ. The obverse shows Christ surrounded by a nimbate cross. In his left hand is a book of the Gospels. Though worn, the lettering on the obverse flanking the portrait is likely IC-XC, an abbreviation for Jesus Christ. The reverse carries four lines of text reading IhSUS XRISTUS bASILEU bASILE, Jesus Christ King of Kings.

Coin from the Byzantine Empire bearing on the obverse a faint portrait of Justin I laureate head right; a large “M” and a cross appear on the reverse.

Imperial Antoninianus coin of Constantine II showing on the obverse bust right; the reverse shows two soldiers, each holding a spear in outer hand and resting inner hand on grounded shield.

Coin from the city of Ephesus in Ionia. The obverse is almost worn smooth, but very likely showed a bee and a laurel wreath. The reverse shows a stag facing right.

Coin of Commodus Antoninus Augustus Pius showing on the obverse laureate head right; the reverse has the inscription SC across the fields in the center of which is Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae.

Coin of Roman Emperor Constans that bears a portrait of the emperor head right with a laurel wreath around Latin lettering on reverse.

Coin from Carrhae, Mesopotamia. Obverse shows the bust of Caracalla, laureate head right. Reverse likely shows the goddess Tyche, turreted head right.

Coin from the ancient Greek city of Seleucia Pieria, in present-day Syria, of Claudius Drusus. Obverse shows laureate head right. Reverse shows 'SC' within a circled laurel wreath.

Coin showing on the obverse crowned Gordian III radiate bust right. The reverse shows Security standing or leaning on a shield and column or a long staff.

Roman coin of Hadrian on the obverse shown bust right; on the reverse is the goddess Piety, seated. This coin was found in a cache near Hadrian's wall in Great Britain.

This is a modern cast counterfeit of a tetradrachm from Macedon from the reign of Alexander the Great. The originals were minted ca. 336-323 BCE. The obverse shows Heracles facing right wearing a lion-skin headdress. The reverse shows Zeus seated left, holding an eagle and sceptre with a torch in the left field. Very faint to the right of the seated figure is ALEXANDROU, Alexander. Since Alexander's program of hellenization through hegemony included common coinage, this example is as much a testimony to his military and political power as it is a method of economic exchange. For this reason, and due its high historic value, it is a common target of counterfeiters. The tell-tale sign of forgery in this case is evidence of casting; the original coins were struck from blanks.

Coin from the Kingdom of Egypt that bears on the obverse the laureate head of Zeus Ammon, right; on the reverse is an eagle standing left on a thunderbolt.

Coin from the ancient Greek city of Amisos (Pontos). Obverse shows Athena bust right wearing a crested Attic helmet decorated with a Pegasus. Reverse shows Perseus standing left, holding the head of Medusa in his right hand with her body on the ground behind him.

Coin during the reign of Roman Procurator Augustus (Marcus Ambibulus), showing ear of barley within an inscription on the obverse; the reverse depicts a palm tree, with two branches, with a date mark across the trunk.

Coin from Seleucia Pieria of Augustus showing on the obverse laureate head right; the reverse shows “SC” withinin laurel wreath of 8 leaves.

Coin from Selge (Seruk), a city in present day Turkey, depicting emperor Lucius Verus, co-ruler with Marcus Aurelius. The obverse shows the emperor's head, radiate right. The reverse shows Nike standing, holding a spear in her left hand and cornucopia in her right. Faint traces remain of the thin gold wash applied to this coin.