The goal of the book as a whole is to ‘translate’ coin evidence for a new generation of historians. The work of Michael Crawford represented a major leap forward in the study of Roman republican coins during the twentieth century while on the work of earlier generations.The major thematic structure of the book is summarized, and eight basic principles related to the use of coin evidence are laid out.

This chapter explores the diverse ways in which coins serve as ‘monuments in miniature’, commemorating a wide variety of aspects of Roman public life.The first section uses two case studies to exemplify the different types of interactions of individuals, families, and the state seen through the coins.The first looks at the coinage produced over three generations by the Marcii Philippi; the second looks at the diversity of commemorative strategies used within the divisive years 56-55 BCE.The second section looks at how the Romans conceived of their empire as proof of divine favor.This type of ideology is evident in their foundation legends, how Rome is personified, the importance of priesthoods to individual and family status, and how military victories are themselves the subject of religious thanksgiving.

This chapter provides answers to some basic questions: when did Rome start making coins, and why did they make them?What caused the coinage to change?And what are the limits of our quantification of the coin evidence that survives? Answering these questions gives new insights into Rome’s relationship with her regional neighbors in the third century, especially the Pyrrhic War and the wars with Carthage. Attention is given to legends and designs that advertise the purpose of a specific issue, as well as changing weight standards, denomination systems, and retariffing of the denarius.The final section reviews the application of statistics to estimate the size of issues and to compare hoards, and interpret coin weights and metallurgical tests.

In lieu of a conclusion, the book ends with a survey of the basic reference and research tools currently available to scholars and enthusiasts alike. This includes how to find more coin images online, how to find relevant numismatic publications, and what large research projects are currently underway in the field of Roman republican coinage.