Summary:

Coinage is considered to be one of history's major innovations. In the light of new archaeological data, this paper takes us back to the earliest days of coinage in temperate Europe. Did the coin, which first appeared among the Celts 2,300 years ago, become a matter of course? We will look at the rhythms, methods and agents of its dissemination. The introduction of coins into trade involved a whole series of structural changes, the social, economic and political impact of which we attempt to measure.