The Athenian Owl Tetradrachm, featuring Athena's owl on the reverse and an Athenian symbol on the obverse, set the standard for coinage design and became one of the most widely circulated coins in the ancient world.
The Roman Denarius, featuring various designs including gods, goddesses, and emperors, standardized the use of coinage in the Roman Empire and influenced coinage designs for centuries to come.
The Byzantine Solidus, a gold coin featuring the image of the reigning emperor, maintained its weight and purity for over seven centuries, establishing a stable currency system in the Byzantine Empire.
The Spanish Pieces of Eight, also known as Spanish dollars, were widely used as a trade currency in the New World and became the basis for many modern currencies, including the US dollar.
The Dutch Lion Daalder, featuring a lion holding a sword and arrows, was one of the first coins to bear a national emblem and set a standard for national coinage designs.
The French Revolution Assignat, featuring revolutionary symbols and slogans, marked a departure from traditional monarchic designs and reflected the ideals of the French Revolution.
Designed by James Earle Fraser, the American Buffalo Nickel featured a Native American on the obverse and a buffalo on the reverse, showcasing a uniquely American design aesthetic.
The introduction of the Euro coins featuring designs representing each member state of the Eurozone marked a significant shift in European numismatics, promoting unity and diversity through coinage design.