Moneta: Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins

(Paperback)

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The extraordinary story of ancient Rome told through one of the world's most universal, humane and powerful objects- the coin * A Financial Times Book of the Year * A Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday Summer Read * HOLD THE POWER AND GLORY OF ANCIENT ROME IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND. 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. 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. * A Financial Times Book of the Year * A Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday Summer Read *

Reviews

Riveting ... An utterly original history of Rome that compels from start to finish. A wonderful read * Mail on Sunday *
In this delightful book, Harney, a historian and coin collector, tells the story of ancient Rome from founding to collapse, through the medium of its coinage. The result is fascinating, orginal and fun. The story of Rome is of course extraordinary. But the way it is told by Harney brings it to life. It is a book to enjoy, but also one from which both young and old can learn much * Financial Times, Book of the Year 2024 *
An excellent 1,000 year history of Rome told through 12 coins This book is well worth a few denarii * Sunday Times, *Summer Reads of 2024* *
A wonderfully evocative history of the Roman Empire * Mail on Sunday, *Summer Reads of 2024* *
From Caesar's hubris to the daily pay of a Roman soldier, this excellent history whizzes through one thousand years of history ... For those who want an enjoyable potted history of 1,000 years of Rome told in an engaging new way, Harneys book is well worth a few denarii * The Times *
[Harney] deploys the coins skilfully to underpin and illustrate his history an effective and appropriate strategy because Roman coins really are exceptional in the range of their design a rich resource for talking about Roman power * Times Literary Supplement *
Fantastic. Moneta is a brilliant combination of history and expert storytelling if anyone reads the first five pages, theyll be up all night with it -- CONN IGGULDEN, bestselling author of the Emperor series
Gareth Harveys Moneta offers an original and ingenious means of recounting the rise and fall of Romes empire, though twelve coins. The result is both exciting and enjoyable, filled with fascinating and illuminating details -- MATTHEW KNEALE, author of Rome
A novel and highly readable approach to Roman history. The author's enthusiasm shines through on every page -- PHILIP MATYSZAK, author of A History of Ancient Rome in 100 Lives
Extremely enjoyable. A brilliant combination of entertaining and educational Roman history that makes numismatics vivid and exciting -- EMMA SOUTHON, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women
Fast paced and vivid, Moneta makes more than a millennium of Roman history tangible, telling the story of the empires rise and fall through the thing that backed it all - cold hard cash. The coins in these pages funded wars, paid debts, and bought bread, but they also defined factions, declared beliefs, and forged the enduring images of some of historys greatest men -- HONOR CARGILL-MARTIN, author of Messalina
This vivid story of some 800 years of artistry, assassination and adventure makes it far more than a history of Roman coins, but it's that too, and if you weren't already fascinated by these tiny beautiful works of art and all we can learn from them, I promise that you will be by the time the barbarians are at the gate (and probably by end of the prologue). There are riches aplenty in these pages, and Gareth uses his wonderful hoard of coins to pay our fare back to the roar of the Colosseum and the Roman senate house, where he is waiting to describe the ancient past with learning and immediacy -- CHRISTOPHER HADLEY, author of The Road
A first-rate popular history written with verve and imagination -- THOMAS J. T. WILLIAMS, author of Lost Realms
Genius. A beautifully written, fast-paced overview of Rome's history. By linking important events to coins - those tiny portable visual conveyors of information, news and propaganda - Harney has achieved something wonderful -- CAROLINE LAWRENCE, author of The Roman Mysteries
An exhilarating journey through Romes rise and fall, told through the lens of history's most humble, yet powerful, artefact: the coin. Masterfully weaving vivid narratives with in-depth histories, Gareth Harney transforms these small, transient objects into the vibrant storytellers of an empire, bringing the story of money to life in a way that feels both thrilling and accessible. I have a new found respect for the humble coin after reading Harney's book. A fantastic read - I'll wager that readers will be gripped from the start -- JESS VENNER, PhD

Author Bio

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.