When critiquing coin dealers inventory categories, the extremists that consider themselves the voice of the archaeological community will point out the place of manufacture- “Cyprus”, “Sicily”, etc.
The “funny” thing about coins and money in general is that it tends to travel far from where it was originally manufactured. In fact, looking through my pocket change I find coins struck in Denver and Philadelphia to name just two of the mints in the United States; just yesterday I happened to receive a Canadian cent and a few months ago a cent from Barbados. If I were to travel to just about any nation in the world I could also find United States currency. Note- MOST international transactions are handled electronically in today’s world, unlike in antiquity. Ancient coins, with few exceptions, were well travelled.
What about coins of Cyprus? Recorded hoards prove beyond any doubt that some of these coins were also well traveled. Unlike the statement which was made by the AIA president’s letter in 2007 to CPAC concerning import restrictions of coins of Cypriot type where he wrote: “Coins minted on Cyprus were very rarely taken from the island in antiquity”
What about coins manufactured in Rome, which is the greater majority of coins which are sold on the market? Roman coins struck at the mint in Rome have been found throughout the greater majority of lands that were populated during ancient times. From India to China to all of Europe Roman coins have been found and in some cases, they were so well known that they were imitated when they manufactured their OWN coinage!
