nomisma

Nomisma is the Greek word νόμισμα, meaning money or coin. In ancient Greek usage, nomisma referred to a coin issued by an authorized authority and used as a medium of exchange. The term is the etymological root of the modern field of numismatics, from Latin numisma, itself derived from the Greek nomisma. Historically, nomismata were minted by city-states and later by Hellenistic kingdoms and other polities. Coinage included electrum, silver, and gold issues, with denominations such as the drachma and the stater forming standardized units. The value of a nomisma was originally based on the weight and metal content and was regulated by law and authorities. Over time, monetary systems spread through trade networks from the Aegean and Anatolia to the broader Mediterranean. In scholarly usage, nomisma also denotes money in general in ancient economies, not only coins. Coin finds provide insights into political authority, iconography, and economic exchange; the study of nomismata combines archaeology, history, metallurgy, and epigraphy, and remains a core component of numismatics.