In 330 BC, Alexander the Great minted large silver coins called tetradrachms, featuring Hercules wearing a lion-head skin helmet on the front and Zeus enthroned, holding an eagle, on the reverse. These coins and their successors replaced the Greek Athenian Owl silver stater as the primary monetary trade instrument in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East for almost 200 years.
Coins don’t only hold monetary value; they tell stories. They visually depict historical figures, events, and symbols, giving us a glimpse into the ruling monarch, religious and political climate, economic conditions, and cultural values of their era. The designs and inscriptions on coins are historical snapshots of our past, present, and hopes for the future.
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, medals, and related objects. Coin experts trained to identify and grade coins are called numismatists, and ancient coin experts are classical numismatists.
Numismatics can tell us much about societies long after their fall. Ancient Biblical coins include Greek and Judaean varieties, mostly bronze and silver. Then the Romans arrived, minting a massive quantity of bronze, silver, gold, and even lead coins and medallions.
Every Roman Caesar had his own collection of coins stamped with his image, with hundreds of depictions on the reverse, including gods, goddesses, angels, soldiers, standards, battle scenes, and monuments. Even their wives and children issued coins. When Rome began to fall to the Goths and Vandals in the 4th century AD, the Empire moved to Constantinople, later becoming the Byzantine Empire. Christian themes became popular on late Roman coins after the adoption of Christianity, starting with Constantine the Great (307-336 AD).
Today, authentic Greek, Roman, and Byzantine coins are abundant and fairly priced. Counterfeits exist, some dating back to the original coins. Medieval coinage, including those of Western kings and queens, Crusaders, and Eastern empires, are also attainable. The Chinese minted countless coins, often with a square hole and usually of bronze, some weighing nearly a pound and several inches in diameter. Modern world and U.S. coins offer collectors many options.
For centuries, coins featured rulers, gods, or sacred animals. However, in 1772, the American Congress opted to switch things up. With the introduction of the dollar, the design sparked debate. Congress chose Liberty instead of then-President George Washington, differing from Old World coinage. An eagle appeared on the reverse, a throwback to Roman antiquity. Over a century later, Washington’s image first appeared on the U.S. quarter in honor of his 200th birthday and later on nickels minted in 1866 and 1909-1910.
In the U.S., initiatives like the 50 State Quarters program and the American Women Quarters program help tell the nation’s stories for future generations. These programs have also inspired many younger collectors to explore numismatics.
In Utah, coin collecting started with settlers crossing the Mormon Trail. With the discovery of gold in the West, including Utah, local merchants demanded more coinage, leading governing leaders to mint gold and silver tokens. The most famous and highly collectable of these are the Mormon $20, $10, and $5 gold pieces. Smaller commerce tokens, often bronze or aluminum, were common in Utah. Cafes, mercantiles, cooperatives, and department stores issued them from the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s.
Today, collectors seek silver dollars, half dollars, and twenty-cent pieces minted at the Carson City Mint (1870-1893), which bear the distinctive “CC” mintmark. The Denver Mint started striking coins in 1906 and still produces U.S. circulation coins, mint sets, and commemoratives. New Orleans, a branch of the United States Mint, produced gold and silver coins between 1838 and 1861, and again from 1879 to 1909, marked by a distinctive “O” on the reverse.
In 2021, Mark Avery, a retired USAF officer-aviator, founded the Wasatch Coin & History Club. Mark and his family moved to Heber City in 2019 from Saint Charles, Missouri, the launch point for the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition. Incidentally, this expedition was commemorated in 2000 with the Sacagawea or “golden” dollar, featuring the Shoshone guide. These coins have a copper core clad by manganese brass, giving them a golden color.
The Wasatch Coin & History Club aims to educate the public on significant leaders and events using coins and storytelling. Examples of presentations include “The Concept of Liberty Depicted on Coins,” “Coins and Places of the Ancient Frankincense Route,” “World War II Through Coins and Bills,” “Alexander the Great and His Legacy,” and “The Assassination of Julius Caesar with Coins.” The club awards young members collector coins at every meeting. Another goal is promoting numismatics—learning coin value, characteristics, grades, and history.
Utah coin collectors are served by Salt Lake City and Provo coin stores and online dealers. In the Wasatch Back, we welcome a new addition to coin collecting: Coinzio. Opened in September 2024, Coinzio features rare coins, including ancient, bullion, and jewelry.
Owners Chris Fazio, Sarah Foster, and Jay Tims bring extensive experience. Chris is a third-generation family coin business owner and a certified coin grader. After running a top-rated coin shop in Utah Valley, Chris and Sarah teamed up with Jay to bring Coinzio to Heber City—the first coin shop in the Wasatch Back. They found the perfect location, an older home remodeled into a business with added security features, giving Coinzio a vintage look—ideal for selling coins ranging from 3000 BC to 2024. Their prices are highly competitive, even underpricing Salt Lake City stores. Future plans include educational talks, and special displays highlighting ancient, classic, and modern coins, including the latest 3D high-relief coins.
Visit Coinzio: a coin, bullion, and jewelry store, at 841 South Main, Heber.
Join the thriving community of coin collectors and history enthusiasts. Wasatch Coin & History Club every last Tuesday from 6–7:30 PM at the Wasatch County Library.
