How did little metal disks became power, propaganda, and paychecks?

Could you buy a round of drinks with a coin in 500BC?

Well that depends! Some places maybe yes and some places maybe a goat would be better. In this episode, Bernie talks with Leo from Classical Numismatics about the early days of coinage—how it started in Lydia around 650 BC, spread to the Greek world, and why these early coins weren’t just money—they were power, propaganda, and prestige.

Please rate us (highly) on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Leo's Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@ClassicalNumismatics

Great Playlists - I recommend starting with ANCIENT GREEK COINS

https://www.youtube.com/@ClassicalNumismatics/playlists

https://www.kinzercoins.com/

HELP SUPPORT OUR SHOW!

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If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory or https://buymeacoffee.com/whatsnewinhistory

To easily share this episode with friends and family use this link https://pod.fo/e/35a649

This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

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Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.

Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

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Before Greek, Latin, or Sanskrit, there was PIE: Proto-Indo-European. Bernie and Garry Stevens unpack the new book PROTO, focusing on the Anatolian branch—especially the Hittites—and what their strange, early divergence tells us about migrations, language, and identity in the ancient world. Come for the ancient words; stay for the PIE.

Use this link to share with your friends, family, and social media!

https://pod.fo/e/3556de

This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.

If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

http://facebook.com/fanofhistory

https://twitter.com/danhorning

https://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/

Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.

Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s 506 BCE. The armies of Wu and Chu have finally met at Boju after years of rising tension, personal vendettas, and political ambition. In this episode, we break down the strategies, leadership, and terrain behind one of the most dramatic military clashes of the Spring and Autumn period. With Sun Tzu in the field and kings on the line, the fate of states hangs in the balance. chew

Will Chu finally find a friend or is Wu too much for Chu?

Find out in this dramatic episode!

This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.

Use this link to share with your friends, family, and social media!

https://pod.fo/e/351125

If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

http://facebook.com/fanofhistory

https://twitter.com/danhorning

https://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/

Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.

Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It started with exiles, legendary assassinations, and a dream of revenge. This is the opening act of the Wu–Chu War, where the state of Wu punched far above its weight — and the state of Chu didn’t see it coming.

When Chu underestimated its ambitious neighbor, all hell broke loose. In Part 1, we cover the rise of Wu, the backstory of King Helü and the legendary strategist Sun Tzu - author of "The Ancient Art of War" - and how one of the great underdog campaigns in ancient Chinese history began.

Thank you to all the long time fans and Supporters of this podcast! We REALLY APPRECIATE you!

This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.

Use this link to share with your friends, family, and social media!

https://pod.fo/e/346ca3

If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

http://facebook.com/fanofhistory

https://twitter.com/danhorning

https://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/

Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.

Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this "final" episode of our examination of ancient Greek democracy we compare it with the early Roman Republic which began "coincidentally" at the same time.

This won't be the last time we refer to the structures of these political systems over the next few centuries so this episode is required listening for all Fan of History fans! (And well worth it)

Thank you to all the long time fans and Supporters of this podcast! We REALLY APPRECIATE you!

This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.

Use this link to share with your friends, family, and social media!

https://pod.fo/e/33dc13

If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

http://facebook.com/fanofhistory

https://twitter.com/danhorning

https://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/

Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.

Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New science is rewriting the story of Ice Age South America. Humans didn’t just live alongside the giants — they hunted them. Join me as we explore the lives, deaths, and legacies of the GIANT BEASTS that vanished 11,600 years ago.

Please help support the show!

https://buymeacoffee.com/whatsnewinhistory

Links to articles:

https://phys.org/news/2025-10-early-humans-dined-giant-sloths.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx2615

Mylodon - Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mylodon

Megatherium - Wikipedia https://share.google/TUGQzoT3OYKGaatW7

If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory or https://buymeacoffee.com/whatsnewinhistory

This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.

Use this link to share with friends, family, and social media!

https://pod.fo/e/33983a

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

http://facebook.com/fanofhistory

https://twitter.com/danhorning

https://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/

Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.

Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk about men that made up the fleet and army, how the courts worked (you would definitely get jury duty in this system!), and how you could be "dishonored" and thus lose your "civic honor".

And you can you believe they wouldn't allow CRIMINALS to serve or lead in government?? 

This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.

If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory

Custom Printed Shirts in 3 days! Go to graveyardprinting.com and enter coupon code FANOFHISTORY2025 for 11% off

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

http://facebook.com/fanofhistory

https://twitter.com/danhorning

https://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/

Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.

Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We got a letter from a listener—an actual hydraulic engineer—calling SHENANIGANS! on the big clams of building the pyramids with water power as we explored in a recent episode. So we brought Garry back to dig in. Were the ancients really hoisting massive stones with water or is this all just a scholar's "pipe dream"? he he 

Join us as we test the waters of ancient engineering one more time.

Original Article:

https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/07/archaeologists-uncover-evidence-of-high-tech-machines-used-by-ancient-egyptians-to-build-the-pyramids-thousands-of-years-ahead-of-their-time/

Link to study

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0306690

Ancient Roman Sewer:

Systemhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloaca_MaximaPlease rate us (highly) on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Bloopers:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XYO8CrbN3VbOM7PRhNrpWedZ2fyTLkTs/view?usp=sharing

HELP SUPPORT OUR SHOW!

https://buymeacoffee.com/whatsnewinhistory

If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory or https://buymeacoffee.com/whatsnewinhistory

This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

http://facebook.com/fanofhistory

https://twitter.com/danhorning

https://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/

Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.

Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democracy wasn’t just showing up and voting in Athens—it needed infrastructure, and that’s where the Boule came in. This episode explores how 500 citizens, chosen at random, met daily to steer the Athenian state, draft proposals, and make democracy happen in real time. Sound impossible? It wasn’t. And it’s probably more sophisticated than you think.

If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory

This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

http://facebook.com/fanofhistory

https://twitter.com/danhorning

https://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/

Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.

Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome our newest coin guru - Leo from Classic Numismatics! 

Bernie and Leo unpack the significance of a 2,200‑year‑old gold coin featuring Queen Berenice II—discovering power, prestige, and politics in a single tiny disk.

We are thrilled to have Leo join us in this episode set in a time of intrigue, sex, and violence. Check it out and share with your friends and enemies!

Please rate us (highly) on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Leo's Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@ClassicalNumismatics

Great Playlists - I recommend starting with ANCIENT GREEK COINS 

https://www.youtube.com/@ClassicalNumismatics/playlists

Link to article

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a65872096/2000-year-old-queen-coin/

HELP SUPPORT OUR SHOW!

https://buymeacoffee.com/whatsnewinhistory

If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory or https://buymeacoffee.com/whatsnewinhistory

This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

http://facebook.com/fanofhistory

https://twitter.com/danhorning

https://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/

Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.

Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.