Money makes the world. For millennia, currencies have brought order (and disorder) to human society, directing trade, building economies, developing national identities and religion--and spreading empires. More than ever, money’s power to shape our character, our daily lives, and our universal condition is clear.

This revelatory history of ten major currencies details the trajectory of world civilization tied to
the movement of money. From the earliest measurements of precious metals to the global fiat currencies we use today, the evolution of these dominant money systems plots the rise and fall of influential rulers, governments, and imperial powers. These coins have acted as powerful symbols of political expression and continuity despite deeply disruptive social, economic, and political change. Rich with illustrations from the famous collections at the British Museum and elsewhere, this book charts the fascinating path of each coin as it has traveled through history.