It is virtually impossible to summarise modern coinage in just a few sentences, which shows just how diverse and extensive collecting coins and medals is. Let us therefore list just a few of the main areas. After the Migration Period, which is still attributed to antiquity, medieval coins represent the next numismatic epoch. While the Merovingians continued to imitate the money of their predecessors, the Carolingians introduced a coinage reform in 794 AD, which reorganised the coinage system and established a uniform nominal value. For a long time, only silver coins were minted in Europe, either bifacial pennies or monofacial bracteates. It was not until the 13th century that gold coins began to be minted again, starting in the famous trading cities of Florence and Venice.

The year 1486 is often referred to as the beginning of modern coinage. At that time, the first large silver coin, a guldiner, was minted at the Hall mint in Tyrol. From then on, gold and silver coins and small denominations in base metals dominated the world's monetary history. The gold and silver content of the coins was exactly equal to their commercial value. However, there were issued also magnificent representational coins worth many times the weight of a ducat or taler, which impressively documented the wealth of the ruler. Each country had its own monetary laws and peculiarities, which can thus become a separate area of collecting in itself: Russia, Sweden, Poland or Germany with its countless territories, or the overseas colonies of other European superpowers.

As a means of propaganda and as souvenirs or gifts, medals found their way into coin cabinets and collections during the Renaissance. Unbound by the requirements of uniformity, circulation and recognisability, medallists and die cutters created magnificent small pieces of art, which today are collected not only as a category in their own right, but often also as additions to collections.

With the advent of machine minting, coins eventually became more uniform and were produced in larger quantities. As with ancient numismatics, there is also a wealth of literature available to help you get started or deepen your knowledge in this field.