Coins Author:John Porteous In this richly illustrated book, John Porteous surveys the history of coinage in the western world from its emergence in Greece in the seventh century BC until the present day. Coins are often objects of great beauty in themselves; they provide a range of portraits of monarchs and dictators which is important to the iconography of the ages, and ... more »much can be learnt about the economic and political history of a country from their changing designs and values.« less