Plus, receive recommendations and exclusive offers on all of your favorite books and authors from Simon & Schuster.
0:00 /
LIST PRICE $26.99
PRICE MAY VARY BY RETAILER
Digital products purchased on SimonandSchuster.com must be read on the Simon & Schuster Books app. Learn more.
Get 20% off with code DAD20, plus free shipping on orders of $40 or more. (Discount on physical products only.) Terms apply.
Buy from Other Retailers
Table of Contents
Listen To An Excerpt
0:00 /
About The Book
Hold the glory—and infamy—of ancient Rome in the palm of your hand with this “brilliant combination of history and storytelling” (Conn Iggulden, author of the Emperor series) as it explores history’s greatest superpower, as told through humanity’s most universal object: the coin.
When Gareth Harney was first given a Roman coin as a child, he became entranced by its beauty, and its unique ability to connect us with the past. He soon learned that the Romans saw coins as far more than just currency—these were metal canvases on which they immortalized their sacred gods, mighty emperors, towering monuments, and brutal battles of conquest. Revealed in those intricate designs struck in gold, silver, and bronze was the epic story of the Roman Empire.
Now, with his “novel and highly readable” (Philip Matyszak, author of The Blood-Red Sunset) voice and engaging research, Harney traces ancient Rome’s rise, from a few huts on an Italian hilltop to an all-conquering empire spanning three continents, through the fascinating lives of twelve remarkable coins. A unique and enthralling “combination of history and expert storytelling” (Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women) for all history buffs.
When Gareth Harney was first given a Roman coin as a child, he became entranced by its beauty, and its unique ability to connect us with the past. He soon learned that the Romans saw coins as far more than just currency—these were metal canvases on which they immortalized their sacred gods, mighty emperors, towering monuments, and brutal battles of conquest. Revealed in those intricate designs struck in gold, silver, and bronze was the epic story of the Roman Empire.
Now, with his “novel and highly readable” (Philip Matyszak, author of The Blood-Red Sunset) voice and engaging research, Harney traces ancient Rome’s rise, from a few huts on an Italian hilltop to an all-conquering empire spanning three continents, through the fascinating lives of twelve remarkable coins. A unique and enthralling “combination of history and expert storytelling” (Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women) for all history buffs.
About The Author
Louise Harney
Gareth Harney is a Roman historian and coin collector driven by the goal of bringing the wonders of the ancient world to a modern audience. He has worked on excavations of Roman villas in the southwest of England and written about Roman sites in the publications of the Association for Roman Archaeology. As a collector of Roman coinage, he has built his own extensive collection over two decades and pioneered new ways to bring the joys of this esoteric field to a popular audience. He can be found on X at @OptimoPrincipi and through his website HarneyCoins.com.
About The Reader
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (January 14, 2025)
- Runtime: 12 hours and 7 minutes
- ISBN13: 9781797185705
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
"Deep-voiced Piers Hampton fluidly recounts the history of Rome from its earliest days to its collapse through beautiful handcrafted coins of the realm...Hampton’s voice lovingly caresses the coins and coils around age-old stories that range from Aeneas and his family escaping from Troy to the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, Hannibal crossing the Alps, Julius Caesar’s murder, and the ascent of Constantine and Christianity followed by their ignoble fall under the Visigoths. Hampton imbues the vividly carved coinage, echoes of which are seen in today’s coins, with life and context."
– AudioFile Magazine
"Deep-voiced Piers Hampton fluidly recounts the history of Rome from its earliest days to its collapse through beautiful handcrafted coins of the realm...Hampton’s voice lovingly caresses the coins and coils around age-old stories that range from Aeneas and his family escaping from Troy to the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, Hannibal crossing the Alps, Julius Caesar’s murder, and the ascent of Constantine and Christianity followed by their ignoble fall under the Visigoths. Hampton imbues the vividly carved coinage, echoes of which are seen in today’s coins, with life and context."
– AudioFile Magazine
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): A History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins Unabridged Audio Download 9781797185705
- Author Photo (jpg): Gareth Harney Louise Harney(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
