The ancient coins of Greece represent the highest form of the coiner's art. Primarily produced as hammered coinage, Greek coins were normally struck in very high relief. Greek coins have been collected as works of art and as a tangible link to the historical past. When coin collecting is referred to as the Hobby of Kings, it has been primarily Greek coins that kings have collected over the millennia.
In the early 20th century, The US President Theodore Roosevelt was shown several examples of the ancient coiner's art. He was suitably impressed, and embarked on what many believe to be the greatest artistic reinterpretation of US coinage since the mint opened. He enlisted the help of sculptor Augustus St. Gaudins, in producing a new ten and twenty dollar gold piece. The twenty dollar gold piece was struck with three different depths, low relief, high relief and ultra high relief. In the ultra high relief version, the president’s vision of duplicating the artistic Greek coinage was realized. Many believe it to be the most beautiful coin ever struck in the United States.
Ancient Greek coins are generally classified into three categories based upon when they were minted. These are the archaic period, the classical period and the Hellenistic period. Roughly, the archaic period covers the beginnings through 479 BC and the Hellenistic period begins with Alexander the Great. The Classical period is in between.