The Beginnings of Coinage
Did you know that pieces of gold and silver were used as coins some 4,500 years before the birth of Christ? It was certainly a far more convenient (and dependable) way of paying for goods since the ancient system of barter - l'll give you my corn in the autumn if you give me seed in the spring - relied far too heavily on goodwill.
The need for 'money' became plain to all and out of this need different civilisations came to use the things that were valuable to them including exotic feathers and cowrie shells. Eventually came the 
first actual coins. The coins were made out of a mixture of gold and silver known as electrum and were made, it is believed, in the Kingdom of Lydia (modern Turkey) toward the end of the seventh century BC. There were several different sizes, each with their own official value, and they were stamped with an awe-inspiring symbol of authority - the head of a lion.
By using gold and silver people were enjoying material with an intrinsic value. In the ancient world, and indeed up to the beginning of the First World War, many currency systems were based on precious metal coins - in the UK, for instance, gold sovereigns and silver shillings were in daily use. In the modern world, however, coins for circulation are made using material with an actual value much lower than its face value.
Nevertheless, gold and silver coins remain great favourites today albeit reserved for special commemorative coins that are minted to the highest quality and, more often than not, subject to stringent issue limits. Naturally, those from the Royal Mint are extremely popular with collectors and also make fantastic gifts.
View the current commemorative coin range