Rare / Old European Coins

As the Egyptian Empire gave way to the Greeks, Europe began to become a dominant player in the world space. When the Roman's expanded across Europe, bringing Christianity with it, the part Europe would play in world politics was solidified.

England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands all went on to dominate the shape of international religion, politics and trade. Coins moved freely between all of them, and flowed into Asia, Africa, and eventually America. Borders were carved up by these countries, and changed on a whim, as marriages were arranged, and wars waged.

Old French Coins

Old French coins celebrate the aristocracy of France; Kings like the famous Louis' and Charles', opulent palaces like Versailles, and eventually the new French Empire under Napoleon. The French Franc has a history beginning in 1360, and there are lots of rare, collectible French coins to be found.

Old German Coins

Germany was a collection of states for much of the past two thousand years, but still had large parts to play, especially in the founding of Protestantism. Germany wasn't unified until 1871, and coins from this period feature Kaisers such as Wilhelm I, and are of the Mark denomination.

Old Italian Coins

Even after that collapse of the Roman Empire, in which Italy dissolved into a number of self-governing city-states, Italy remained a dominant power across Europe. With Vatican City nestled in Rome, the heart of Christendom would continue to influence the course of European history. Old coins from Italy vary depending on where they come from; the Florin for example was a popular coin named for Florence. The Lire became the main Italian currency in 1861.