Coinage in Ancient Greece – IELTS Reading Answers

The passage, ‘Coinage in Ancient Greece Reading Answers’ comprises a part of an IELTS General reading test.

The Reading Module can be the top-scoring category for IELTS aspirants, with diligent practice. To score well, you must understand how to approach and answer the different question types in the Reading Module.

You must scan the material for important terms, comprehend the subject, and then respond in accordance with the instructions. Also, read the IELTS reading passage, Coinage in Ancient Greece, pick out significant words, and recognize synonyms in order to provide a one-word response.

So, let’s see how easy this passage is for you. If not, try more IELTS reading practice tests.

The types of questions found in this passage are:

• Matching Information (Q. 1-6)
• Short Answer Type Questions (7-10)
• Multiple Choice Questions (11-12)

Are you struggling while solving MCQ-type questions? Watch a quick strategy-based video before you begin with the passage.

Reading Passage

Coinage in Ancient Greece

A There are more than 170 official national currencies currently in circulation around the world – and while they may differ greatly in value, most show a high degree of commonality when it comes to their design. Typically, a coin or banknote will feature the effigy of a notable politician, monarch, or other personality from the country of origin on one side and a recognizable state symbol (e.g. a building or an animal) on the reverse. This pattern, which has been around for more than 21 centuries, originated in ancient Greece.

B Prior to the invention of legal tender, most transactions in the ancient world took the form of trading a product or service for another. As sea trade grew in the Mediterranean, however, the once popular barter system became hard to maintain for two reasons: firstly, because it was tricky to calculate the value of each item or service in relation to another, and secondly, because carrying large goods (such as animals) on boats to do trade with neighboring cities was difficult and inconvenient. Therefore, the need soon arose for a commonly recognized unit that would represent a set value – what is known today as a currency. As Aristotle explains in Politics, metal coins naturally became the most popular option due to the fact that they were easy to carry, and didn’t run the risk of expiring. According to ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the first coins were invented in 620 BC in the town of Lydia, although some theorize that they actually originated in the city of Lonia. (Coins had already existed for nearly 400 years in China, unbeknownst to Europeans.)

C Much like with every other form of ancient Greek art, the history of ancient Greek coins can be divided into three distinct chronological periods: the Archaic (600-480 BC), the Classic (480-330 BC), and the Hellenistic Period (330-Ist century BC). As Ancient Greece was not a united country like today, but rather comprised of many independent city-states known as poleis, each state produced its own coins. The island of Aegina was the first to mint silver coins, perhaps adopting the new system upon witnessing how successfully it had facilitated trade for the lonians. Aegina being the head of a confederation of seven states, it quickly influenced other city-states in the Mediterranean and the new method of trade soon became widespread. Up until approximately 510 BC, when Athens began producing its own coin, the Aegina coin – which featured a turtle on its surface – was the most predominant in the region.

D The tetradrachm, Athens’s new coin bearing the picture of an owl on its obverse as a tribute to the city’s protector, the goddess Athena, brought with it a shift in the world of coinage. Prior to the tetradrachm, Athenians had been using simple iron rods known as ‘obols’ for currency. As the average human hand could grasp about six obols, that number soon came to represent a ‘drachma’ (from the Greek verb ‘dratto”, which means ‘to grasp) – so the new tetradrachm had the same value as 24 obols. With Athens continually growing in power, the tetradrachm soon replaced the Aegina ‘turtle’ as the most preponderant coin in the region. It was around that time that an agreement akin to the way the EU’s euro currency functions also appeared, with different coins from all over the Mediterranean being made to the same standards as the Athenian coin (albeit with each city’s own symbols on them) and being used interchangeably among the trading city-states.

E Coinage soon spread beyond those city-states. Romans abandoned the bronze bars they’d been using in favor of coins around the year 300 BC, and Alexander the Great and his father King Philip of Macedonia began to produce massive quantities of coins to fund their military escapades around the same time. It was with the death of the latter, in 336 BC, that the Hellenistic Period began. Two things characterize the Hellenistic Period: the introduction of a “type” (the design that coins were stamped with) on the reverse of the coins, and mass production, which mostly took place in kingdoms beyond the Greek city-states, such as Egypt, Syria, and the far east. Another new feature, which was heavily criticized by the Greeks, was the introduction of profiles of kings and other important living figures as stamps in lieu of the traditional symbols of animals and buildings. Athens, still a powerful city at the time, eschewed these designs and continued to produce its own tetradrachm coins, even introducing – a new style of coin characterized by broad, thin flans – a design that became popular across the Aegean and lasted until the spread of Roman rule over Greece.

A It’s not difficult to see why ancient Greek coins continue to fascinate coin collectors and historians today. They marked the beginning of a new era in business and introduced a model of trade in Europe that is still present nowadays; they greatly influenced the design of modern coinage, with symbols such as the owl (which can be seen on the Greek version of the euro today) and portraits of important personalities; and, since they were hand-made to high technical standards representative of ancient Greek perfectionism, many are even remarkable in their own right, as tiny metal works of art.

Questions 1-6

List of Headings

1. The beginning of the Archaic period
2. The Athenian obol replaces the turtle
3. III. How product exchange became insufficient
4. Roman and Macedonian coins
5. The relevance of ancient Greek coins today
6. New cities introduce new design rules
7. VII. A precursor of the modern euro
8. VIII. The difference between Lonian and Lydian coins
9. Modern coin designs and their origin

1 Paragraph A

2 Paragraph B 

3 Paragraph C 

4 Paragraph D 

5 Paragraph E 

6 Paragraph F

Questions 7-10

7 What were the ancient Greek city-states commonly known as?

8 Which type did the Aegina coin use?

9 What was the value of a drachma in ancient Athens?

10 What did the Romans use prior to the introduction of coins?

Questions 11-12

11 The Athenian Hellenistic-period tetradrachm coin

A replaced the owl type with the profile of a king.

B was a thin, wide metal disk.

C remained popular under Roman rule.

D was massively produced in Syria and Egypt.

12 Ancient Greek coins

A are still a method of trade in Europe nowadays.

B are remarkably different from modern coins.

C are a fine example of ancient Greek art

D were a tribute to the goddess Athena, protector of Athens

Answers of Coinage in Ancient Greece Reading Answers with Explanation

1 Answer: IX

Answer Location: Paragraph A

Answer explanation: The passage introduces the concepts of modern coin designs and their origin. It states how patterns on coins today originated in Greece and have survived for 21 centuries. Thus, the title is appropriate.

2 Answer: III

Answer Location: Paragraph B

Answer explanation: It mentions that prior to the invention of the legal tender, most transactions in the ancient world were made by exchanging one good or service for another. However, with the growth in sea trade, it became challenging to determine the relative value of each good or service. Thus, product exchange became insufficient.

3 Answer: I

Answer Location: Paragraph C

Answer explanation: It briefly mentions the occurrence of time periods in the Greek civilization and also sheds light on the beginning of the Archaic period in 600 BC. Thus, the title is suitable.

4 Answer: VII

Answer Location: Paragraph D

Answer explanation: It mentions the evolution of the Athenian Tetradrachm, and a system of coinage similar to how the euro currency operates today also began to emerge, with coins from all over the Mediterranean being produced to the same standards as the Athenian coin (though bearing the distinctive symbols of each city) and became an interchangeable currency. Thus, the title is appropriate.

5 Answer: VI

Answer Location: Paragraph E

Answer explanation: It mentions how new cities introduced new design rules and changes on coins, such as the introduction of a “type” or imprinting designs on the reverse side of coins, mass production became prevalent, and living monarchs were stamped on coins in place of the traditional symbols of animals and buildings. Thus, the title is appropriate.

Tips for Solving IELTS Reading Passage ‘Coinage in Ancient Greece’ With Insights!

Matching Information

1. Read the instructions carefully: Before you start, make sure you understand what you need to match. Sometimes, you’ll be asked to match headings to paragraphs or statements to sections, so be clear on the task.
2. Skim the passage: Quickly read through the passage to get a general sense of the content and layout. This will help you identify where the information you need might be located.
3. Use keywords: Look for keywords or key phrases in the question and the passage. These words are often repeated or paraphrased in the text and can guide you to the correct answer.
4. Underline or highlight: As you find information that matches the question, underline or highlight it in the passage. This will make it easier to refer back to when answering the questions.
5. Check for synonyms: Be aware of synonyms and paraphrases. Sometimes, the exact words from the question may not appear in the passage, but similar words or phrases will. Keep an eye out for these.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Focus on keywords: Pay close attention to the keywords in the question. These are the words that are crucial for finding the answer. Underline or circle them to keep them in mind.
2. Read the instructions: Check if there are any specific instructions regarding the format of your answer. Is it a single word, a number, a date, or a short phrase? Follow the instructions carefully.
3. Scan and skim: Quickly scan the passage to locate the relevant section and then skim it to extract the necessary information. Don’t waste time reading the entire passage in detail for short answer questions.
4. Beware of distractors: Be cautious of information that might seem relevant but is meant to distract you. Stick to the keywords in the question and ensure your answer directly addresses the question.
5. Manage your time: Short-answer questions can be time-consuming. If you’re struggling with one, move on to the next and come back to it later if needed. Time management is crucial for completing the entire section.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Read all options: Always read all the options before selecting your answer. Sometimes, the first option that seems correct may not be the best choice after considering all the options.
2. Identify keywords: Identify keywords in the question and focus on finding these keywords in the passage. This will help you narrow down the relevant information.
3. Eliminate wrong choices: After reading all the options, eliminate the ones that are clearly incorrect. This can make it easier to choose the correct answer among the remaining options.
4. Consider context: Pay attention to the context of the passage. Sometimes, a choice that seems correct out of context may not be when placed within the context of the passage.
5. Guess if unsure: If you’re unsure about an answer, make an educated guess. There is no penalty for incorrect answers in the IELTS Reading test, so it’s better to make an educated guess than to leave it blank.

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