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Moneta

Moneta

Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins

Summary

*A Financial Times Book of the Year of 2024*

The extraordinary story of ancient Rome, history's greatest superpower, as told through humankind's most universal object: the coin.

'Fantastic'
CONN IGGULDEN, author of Nero
'Brilliant' EMMA SOUTHON, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Woman
'Wonderful' CHRISTOPHER HADLEY, author of The Road

A wild she-wolf tenderly nurses infant twins Romulus and Remus.
Marcus Junius Brutus looks out over chaos and conflict, flaunting the bloodied daggers with which he murdered Julius Caesar.
Trumpets blare, crowds roar, gladiators enter the grand Colosseum. Let the games begin.

Hold the power and glory of the Roman empire in the palm of your hand. Frescoes fade and books vanish, but the story of Rome’s epic rise and fall survives in scenes struck in gold, silver and bronze. Told through the lives of twelve remarkable coins, this is ancient Rome as you’ve never seen it before.

Reviews

  • Riveting ... An utterly original history of Rome that compels from start to finish. A wonderful read
    Mail on Sunday

About the author

Gareth Harney

Gareth Harney is a historian and coin collector striving to bring the wonders of the ancient world to a wider audience. For two decades he has explored the ruins of the Roman Empire, from the rugged landscapes of Hadrian’s Wall to the desert sands of the Sahara, all the while celebrating every aspect of ancient Rome with his large online following. Tweeting @OptimoPrincipi he combines rigorous historical research with thrilling storytelling to make classical history vital and relatable. Having built his own ancient coin collection since childhood, he now uses his website, blog, and high-definition coin photography to promote the joys of the hobby to a whole new generation.
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