This book by Professor of Moscow University G. A. Fedorova-Davydova is written in a popular scientific form, bright and fascinating. It is an essay on the history of monetary affairs in the ancient states of the Mediterranean, medieval Western Europe, the countries of the East, in Russia (from the first “goldsmiths” and “srebreniks” of Prince Vladimir to the reforms of Peter I), it is also told here about coins of the new time. special section dedicated to the beginning of the Soviet coinage. The author shows that coins are an interesting and peculiar historical source. They are "witnesses of the past", telling "often very accurately and impartially" about wars and reforms, about the struggle for state independence, uprisings and instigations... Using modern methods of studying coins, and especially large coin complexes, scientists sometimes restore not only events, but also complex socio-historical processes. The reader will get an idea about the specifics of the work of numismatists, about the basic concepts of numismatic science .. Other books by G. A. Fedorova-Davydova on the website:Money business of the Golden Horde. City of Bulgaria. Essays on History and Culture . Nomads of Eastern Europe under the rule of Golden Horde Khans . The social structure of the Golden Horde . Coins of Moscow Russia . Coins of the Principality of Nizhny Novgorod . The coins tell