Expert: Ralph Salier - 7/19/2005

Question
TRUE or FALSE?

a coin found at an archaelogical site with the date of 500 BC must be a forgery.

Answer
Rhiannon,

True.  Since the terminology for BC or BCE means "Before Christ" or "Before the Common Era" any coin which indicated the BC would be fake.  However, coins were used during this time period.  The Romans for instance did have coinage and these were dated with the reign of the standing Emporer.  So a coin could be given a dating of 500BC.