Numismatics in Art: How Finance Comes to Life in Works of Cultural Heritage

11.12.2024

On November 26, lecturers from the Department of Finance, Accounting and Banking of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University took part in an important and extremely informative event – ​​online excursions. 

The online excursion “History of Monetary Circulation of Ukraine: Numismatics in Art” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4PqSJOti_o was organized by the Museum of Money of Ukraine of the NBU. This event became an integral part of the process of improving the skills of teachers and providing assistance in preparing materials for educational programs covering a wide range of topics, from financial literacy to the history of economic thought.

The main goal of the virtual excursion was to familiarize with the historical aspects of finance through art, in particular through the prism of numismatics, and to improve the skills of teachers. The lecturer was Andriy Boyko-Gagarin, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Senior Curator of the Museum of Money of Ukraine, who shared unique knowledge and insights into the use of coins and monetary symbols in art of different eras.

During the lecture, teachers had the opportunity to learn about the role of coins in art through different historical stages. In his report, Mr. Boyko-Gagarin focused on numerous examples showing how coins appeared in works of art of different eras – from antiquity to modernity. All this allows for a deeper understanding of how finance, money and economics are integrated into cultural and historical heritage.

In particular, among the topics that were considered during the seminar: Religious subjects in art (coins, often depicted in religious subjects, became symbols of moral lessons, showing the attitude towards material goods); Ancient coins in art; Coins as a symbol of greed and the image of usurers in works of art, reflecting moral and economic contradictions.

Special attention was paid to portraits of merchants, which depicted coins as symbols of their status and significance in the development of economic relations. An important aspect of the lecture was also everyday subjects, where coins were used to depict everyday actions of people, such as checking coins or finding the correct prices for goods. One of the most impressive parts of the lecture concerned women’s jewelry, in particular ducats, which were of great importance in the history of Ukrainian art as symbols of wealth and cultural heritage. Numismatics today not only studies coins as artifacts, but also explores how classical art influences modern collecting culture.

The event became an indispensable source of new knowledge for the teachers of the Department of Finance, Accounting and Banking of Luhansk National University. This not only helped to better understand the relationship between finance and culture, but also provided an opportunity to interest students in new approaches to studying finance through art. Such events are important in the context of increasing financial literacy among young people. The integration of the history of monetary circulation and numismatics into academic disciplines allows students to better navigate financial processes and understand how they are reflected in culture and society.

The event clearly demonstrated how important it is to combine finance and art, as well as how an interdisciplinary approach can significantly enrich the educational process. Art is not only a reflection of emotions and creativity, but also an important tool for understanding social and economic processes.

The department’s teachers express their gratitude to Andriy Boyko-Gagarin for an interesting lecture that helped to deepen the knowledge and broaden the horizons of all participants. This is another step towards improving the quality of education and developing critical thinking among students and teachers.

We look forward to similar events that allow us to combine scientific knowledge with practical activities, thus creating new opportunities for the professional growth of teachers and students of the Department of Finance, Accounting and Banking.

According to the Department of Finance, Accounting and Banking