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Moneta: A History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins Kindle Edition
* 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.
'Fantastic ... expert storytelling' CONN IGGULDEN
'Excellent' SUNDAY TIMES
'Riveting and utterly original' MAIL ON SUNDAY
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.
Told through the lives of twelve remarkable coins, this is ancient Rome as you’ve never seen it before. Frescoes fade and books vanish, but the story of Rome’s epic rise and fall survives in scenes struck in gold, silver and bronze.
'Extremely enjoyable' EMMA SOUTHON
'Wonderful ... there are riches aplenty in these pages' CHRISTOPHER HADLEY
'Ingenious - filled with illuminating details' MATTHEW KNEALE
'Fascinating, original and fun' FINANCIAL TIMES
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherVintage Digital
- Publication date9 May 2024
- File size23.2 MB
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This audacious bronze coin shows the Roman Colosseum on the day of its grand opening. We can see its endless arcades, its miraculous retractable roof, even the cheering Roman spectators inside.

Product description
Review
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
A first-rate popular history written with verve and imagination -- THOMAS J. T. WILLIAMS, author of Lost Realms
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*
Gareth Harvey’s Moneta offers an original and ingenious means of recounting the rise and fall of Rome’s empire, though twelve coins. The result is both exciting and enjoyable, filled with fascinating and illuminating details -- MATTHEW KNEALE, author of Rome
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
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, Harney’s book is well worth a few denarii ― The Times
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 Rome’s 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
Fantastic. Moneta is a brilliant combination of history and expert storytelling – if anyone reads the first five pages, they’ll be up all night with it -- CONN IGGULDEN, bestselling author of the Emperor series
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 wonderfully evocative history of the Roman Empire ― Mail on Sunday, *Summer Reads of 2024*
[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
Fast paced and vivid, Moneta makes more than a millennium of Roman history tangible, telling the story of the empire’s 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 history’s greatest men -- HONOR CARGILL-MARTIN, author of Messalina
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B0CK19FNLY
- Publisher : Vintage Digital
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : 9 May 2024
- Language : English
- File size : 23.2 MB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 364 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-1529926682
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Best Sellers Rank: 93,267 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer reviews:
About the author

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.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book to be a fantastic read with excellent presentation of ancient Rome's history through coins. The writing quality receives positive feedback, and one customer notes it's expensive but worth the investment.
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Customers find the book to be an excellent and interesting read, with one customer noting it is exceptionally readable.
"Good book, well written, following the history of the Romans through their currency. A very interesting read" Read more
"A very interesting and original approach to the history of Rome using the imagery on its coinage to tell the story of the republic and the rise and..." Read more
"...Not your usual history book but a fascinating and interesting read." Read more
"What a wonderful book! The history of Rome through coins, a great idea and so well researched that I couldn’t put it down...." Read more
Customers find the book enlightening, with one mentioning how it helped them understand the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.
"Good book, well written, following the history of the Romans through their currency. A very interesting read" Read more
"A very interesting and original approach to the history of Rome using the imagery on its coinage to tell the story of the republic and the rise and..." Read more
"With a clever format this book traces the history of the Roman Empire from Romulus and Remus to its demise through examples of the coinage...." Read more
"What a wonderful book! The history of Rome through coins, a great idea and so well researched that I couldn’t put it down...." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, with one noting its clever format.
"Good book, well written, following the history of the Romans through their currency. A very interesting read" Read more
"Excellent well-written book." Read more
"With a clever format this book traces the history of the Roman Empire from Romulus and Remus to its demise through examples of the coinage...." Read more
"Can highly recommend - it is an exceptionally readable and interesting book, even for those already well versed in Roman history...." Read more
Customers find the book valuable, with one mentioning it's expensive but worth it, while another notes how money played a crucial role in Roman society.
"...Expensive but worth it." Read more
"Money made the Romans go ‘round and this history grasps how coinage, commerce, and carnage expanded the empire." Read more
"Moneta worth every denarius..." Read more
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 April 2025Good book, well written, following the history of the Romans through their currency. A very interesting read
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2024A very interesting and original approach to the history of Rome using the imagery on its coinage to tell the story of the republic and the rise and fall of the empire in the west. Coins were the most effective means of portraying the emperor as he wanted to be seen by his subjects. Images on coins could also be used to reflect desirable abstract concepts such as concord and harmony, or show the spoils of a particular conquest, or simply illustrate major building projects such as the Colosseum. Gareth Harney devotes a chapter to twelve particular coins, from the first didrachm minted in Rome in the 3rd century BC, to a half-siliqua issued by the first post-Roman king of Italy, Odoacer,, in 477 AD. Recommended both to coin collectors and lovers of Roman history seen from a slightly different perspective.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 April 2025Excellent well-written book.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 August 2024With a clever format this book traces the history of the Roman Empire from Romulus and Remus to its demise through examples of the coinage. It is interesting and engaging to read about history and the coins in this way. My knowledge of the timeline of then Roman Empire was hazy to say the least but this book has helped me understand the Rise and Fall of the Empire and how important the currency was in reflecting this.
Never knew just how important every detail was on coins to show us how they reflected what was happening at the time.
Not your usual history book but a fascinating and interesting read.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 December 2024And journey through Roman history from an unusual perspective - that of its coinage. Expensive but worth it.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 August 2024What a wonderful book!
The history of Rome through coins, a great idea and so well researched that I couldn’t put it down. Well written by an Author who has a passion for coins and it shows and it’s now got me interested in collecting them too.
Thank you for such an original idea and can’t wait for your next book (no pressure !)
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 June 2024Can highly recommend - it is an exceptionally readable and interesting book, even for those already well versed in Roman history. Huge credit to Gareth Harney for being able to maintain his highly engaging narratives across dual media of twitter and novel!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 June 2024Almost impossible to put down, I ended up reading this in about 2 days. A brilliant cross-over for historians and numismatists alike, Gareth Harney brings almost a thousand of years of history together in a way which so few authors are able to do. Thoroughly recommended!
Top reviews from other countries
- Orestes R BetancourtReviewed in the United States on 8 October 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable feat of good storytelling
“Moneta” is a remarkable feat of good storytelling combined with the original idea of using numismatics as a vessel to guide you through the history of Rome. In this book, the author, Gareth Harney, first takes you to his childhood memories when his dad puts in his hand the first ancient coin of his collection. From that touching moment, Gareth takes you to the foundational moment of Rome all the way to its collapse. You will meet mad and good emperors, gladiators and gods, a world that stretched from Britain to Syria. The pages of “Moneta” are illustrated with ancient Roman coins that are the envy of any collector. As soon as you start reading, you will not put this book down unless some urgent matter calls to your attention. 100% recommended.
- cholserReviewed in Australia on 31 January 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Timeline
While the theme of the coins is certainly interesting, for me the way it gives an opportunity to lay out a chronology of Rome and effortlessly join all the dots is very clever.
This book is fascinating, very well written and definitely a great way to understand Rome in terms of the history, how everything fits together and also the enduring influences on our world today.
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Arab Emirates on 15 October 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Good value for moneta!
A great book for collectors - easy to read but packed with very well researched information.