Coins and the Renaissance

A history of currency

A new exhibit at Firestone Library examines the early days of coin collecting, when renaissance scholars used coins and texts to decipher the monetary system of ancient Rome and answer other historical questions.
“Numismatics in the Renaissance,” at Firestone’s main gallery, opened with a daylong conference Nov. 9 and will remain on display through July 20, 2008. In addition to displaying ancient coins that bear the images of Julius Caesar, Augustus, Caligula, and others, the exhibit explains how 16th-century Europeans systematically studied the “material remains” of classical civilization, giving rise to numismatics, archaeology, and epigraphy (the study of inscriptions).
While the faces on coins were the primary source of fascination, the images on the reverse - of animals, goddesses, and symbols - also provided insight for the study of different time periods. The Firestone exhibit presents several books in which early drawings of coins were published and the actual coins represented in the illustrations.
The exhibit highlights the University’s Numismatic Collection, which contains about 60,000 items, including coins, medals, and paper money.

Up with oomph

Men’s basketball center Zach Finley ’10 muscles through the defense during Princeton’s 66-58 win over Iona Nov. 14. The Tigers won their first two games under new coach Sydney Johnson ’97 (profiled in the Nov. 21 issue of PAW) before falling to Duke 83-61 in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational Nov. 19. Through the first three games, Finley led Princeton in scoring (14.7 points per game) and was tied for first in rebounding (5.3 rebounds per game).
Photo by Frank Wojciechowski

New book: Persuasion as art

Do you woo? You should, if you hope to succeed in business, according to Wharton professor G. Richard Shell ’71 and colleague Mario Moussa, the authors of The Art of Woo: Using Strategic Persuasion to Sell Your Ideas (Portfolio). “Woo-ing,” in this case, refers to “winning others over,” a concept coined by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton in their bestseller, Now, Discover Your Strengths. Shell and Moussa dissect the important steps of wooing, from getting people’s attention to closing a deal, using anecdotes about some of history’s “greatest persuaders” and lists of things to keep in mind, including “10 questions for would-be wooers.”
For information about other books by alumni and faculty, visit New Books at PAW online.

More at PAW Online

Roman ambassador — In the wake of the Art Museum’s recent return of Italian artifacts, PAW revisits the post-World War II story of a well-traveled ancient goat head.
On the Campus — On the Street, the mood has swung from carefree to careful; the Office of Religious Life moves to “humanize” the Chapel.
Rally ’Round the Cannon — Gregg Lange ’70 probes the mystery of why the Cannon on the Green is slowly sinking.