Collection Specialist Marina Fischer of the University of Calgary writes:

Coins of Jesus: Money and Religion in the Ancient World on display in Nickle Galleries until Sept 7

Organized by Nickle Galleries, Curated by Marina Fischer University of Calgary, Canada

A stunning selection of Jewish, Christian and Islamic coins is now on display in the University of Calgary's Nickle Galleries in the exhibition Coins of Jesus: Money and Religion inthe Ancient World. The gallery houses one of the most significant numismatic collections in Canada.

Through ancient money, this exhibition explores the world's religious history and its cultural and ideological diversity. It begins with Persian Imperial coins - the only coins referenced inthe Old Testament of the Bible - and the renowned Phoenician shekels. Next, striking examples of Jewish, Judeo-Roman, Roman Christian and Byzantine gold, silver and bronze coinage - including coinsof Pontius Pilate, Jewish Revolts and the first coin with Christ's image. Finally, wide-ranging Islamic and medieval money can be seen plus the very first Islamic coin without pictorial symbols -the radical redesign which occurred at the end of the seventh century.

The Nickle coin collection is a rich teaching and research resource, providing for the interest and enjoyment of the university and the community as a whole. We are sure the visitors will find theexhibition an intellectually and artistically rewarding journey.

The significant founding donation of 11,000 ancient coins was presented to the University of Calgary in 1980 by Carl O. Nickle. The collection has since been broadened through the generosity ofThe Nickle Family Foundation and others, such as the Conn, de Groot, Wright, Chessman and Manz families, and is now comprised of 23,000 pieces. View the collection here: http://emuseum.ucalgary.ca/ .

Coins of Jesus runs until Sept 7. The display is located in the Gallery Hall window on the main floor of the Taylor Family Digital Library.

A special exhibition will be organized for the University's Alumni Weekend on September 22-24, 2017 with two talks about the coins: http://www.ucalgary.ca/alumniweekend/sessions .

Admission and all events are FREE.

Nickle Galleries
University of Calgary
TFDL, 2500 University Dr. NW
Calgary, T2N 1N4 Canada
http://nickle.ucalgary.ca/

For more information, see:
Coins of Jesus: Money and Religion in the Ancient World(http://nickle.ucalgary.ca/exhibitions/item/coins-jesus-money-and-religion-ancient-world)