Numismatics and History

Numismatics may be defined as the science of money in its physical aspects. It is only indirectly connected with the theory of money, which belongs to the sphere of economics. Its subject-matter consists of the material objects which in most societies are used to measure the worth of goods and services, and consequently to facilitate the exchange of commodities, and act as a store of value.

I'm currently reading Philip Grierson's Numismatics and History, a short paper published in 1951 for The Historical Association.