Main Topic:
NUMISMATICS AS A SOURCE OF AFRICAN HISTORY
Sub Topic 1:
Definition of Numismatics
Sub Topic 2:
Advantages/Merits of Numismatics as a source of African history
Sub Topic 3:
Disadvantages/Demerits of Numismatics as a source of African history
Objectives (By the end of
the Lesson students will be able to):
1.
explain
Numismatics as a source of African history
2.
discuss
the advantages/merits of Numismatics as a source of African history
3.
discuss
the disadvantages/demerits of Numismatics as a source of African history
Definition of Numismatics
Numismatics is the study of coins. This study helps us
to know where the coins were minted and found.
Merits of Numismatics as a source of
African history
1. Advanced
economy
Numismatics studies has proved that
Africans had an advanced economy in minting of coins. Numismatics throws light
on trade contacts between people. For an example the discovery of 240 coins at
Kilwa on the East African Coast show that from the 13th century AD, the sultans
of Kilwa had their own mint.
2. Accurate
date
Numismatic
gives accurate dates, names, places and events. For example the king list of
Kilwa came to light when the 240 coins were discovered. It showed the sultans
of the Swahili Coast.
3. Reliable
Discovered coins can be seen, felt or
touched, makes history live, or more interesting or reliable.
4.
High level of civilization
Numismatics
shows the level of civilization to the people using coins. For instance, by the
13th century AD, the Sultans of the East African Coast had their own mint of
coins for producing their coins for trade and other purposes. Also, gold
weights represented the means of determining quantities of gold in Akan society
where gold dust was the normal currency. The value of gold to be used in a
money transaction was assessed by weights.
5. Political
dominance
Numismatics shows the political dominance
in societies using coins. During the colonial rule, Ghana’s currency had the
figure and name of the British crown.
6.
Preservation for longer periods.
Numismatics unlike the other artifacts, a
coin can be preserved for a relatively longer period.
7.
Trade links
Through the activities of numismatics, it is known that as far back as the 9th and 10th centuries AD, the people of East Africa and China had established trading links.
Demerits of Numismatics
1. Gives
limited information
Numismatics gives limited information in the story it tells. It may only identify a ruling class in the society engaged in trading activity who used the coin. This makes numismatics handicapped in tracing the other aspects of cultural lives of the user societies.
2. Rely
on other sources
Without the consultation of other sources
like archeology and oral tradition, numismatics may somehow be impotent in revealing
the entire cultural history of a society. This is also because not all
pre-historic societies minted and used coins.
Past
Questions.
1.
Discuss any four benefits of Numismatics as a source of African history.
(WASSCE
NOV/DEC 2011)
2.
In what five ways can Linguistics studies help in the reconstruction of
Ghanaian history?
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