From Ancient Greek Coins to the Digital Age

An evening with Professor Andrew Meadows, University of Oxford

From Ancient Greek Coins to the Digital Age

An evening with Professor Andrew Meadows, University of Oxford

Wednesday, 11 November 2026 | 6:30–8:30 PM

Location: Department of Classics, University of Oxford

Limited to 50 participants

What gives money its value? Is it the precious metal it contains, the authority behind it, or simply our collective trust?

We are delighted to take you to the University of Oxford's Department of Classics for a fascinating evening with Professor Andrew Meadows, Professor of Ancient History and Director of the Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents.

As we move towards an increasingly cashless world, it is worth asking how money began in the first place.

More than 2,500 years ago, the first coins appeared on the western coast of what is now Turkey. From there, coinage spread across the ancient Greek world, transforming trade, economic life and the relationship between people and the institutions that governed them.

Professor Meadows will take us on a journey through the origins of money, exploring how coins evolved from objects valued for their gold and silver content into currencies whose worth increasingly depended on trust, convention and the authority of their issuers.

It is a story that connects the ancient world directly to some of today's biggest questions about money, digital currencies and the future of payments.

After 2,500 years, perhaps the fundamental question hasn't changed at all: what makes us believe that money has value?

Meet our speaker: Professor Andrew Meadows

Professor Andrew Meadows is Professor of Ancient History and Director of the Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents in Oxford's Faculty of Classics. He is also Fellow and Tutor in Ancient History at New College and an Honorary Curator at the Ashmolean Museum.

Before joining Oxford, he served as Curator of Greek Coins at the British Museum and held a senior leadership role at the American Numismatic Society in New York.

His research explores the economic and political history of the ancient Greek world, with particular expertise in the origins and development of coinage.

The evening's programme

6:30–7:30 PM | Lecture and discussion

Join Professor Meadows for an exploration of the origins of coinage and the enduring question of what gives money its value, followed by an opportunity to ask questions.

7:30–8:30 PM | Networking and refreshments

Continue the conversation with fellow students and participants from across our Accredited Programmes and enjoy the opportunity to connect with Oxford's wider academic community.

Just 50 places available!

Discover Oxford is designed to bring our Accredited Programme students and participants into the wider University, introducing you to the extraordinary research, people and ideas that make Oxford such a special place to study.

You do not need to be an expert in ancient history to enjoy this evening. Just bring your curiosity!

A note on registration – our Good Citizen Policy

Places are strictly limited to 50 participants, and our Discover Oxford events regularly fill up very quickly.

Please register only if you are committed to attending. If you can no longer join us, we ask that you cancel your registration in advance so that another student can take your place.

Participants who register and fail to attend without prior notice may be excluded from registering for future Discover Oxford and Oxford After Dark events during the 2026–27 academic year.

We want as many students as possible to benefit from these opportunities, and we appreciate your cooperation.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Department of Classics for another wonderful evening of discovery at Oxford!

Description supplied by the event organiser.