The first known portable calculating tool, the Abacus, is often associated with the development of an ancient network of trade routes referred to as the Silk Road. Spanning 6,400 kilometres, the vast passage was the first to connect China with the Middle East and Europe.
As well as facilitating trade in products such as textiles, spices and other foods, the route encouraged the transmission of knowledge and ideas. Many cities along the Silk Road developed into hubs of culture and learning.
This innovative new coin from The Perth Mint highlights the significance of the abacus.
Merchants traditionally used an abacus to keep an inventory of commodities being brought and sold along the route. Also known as counting boards or frames, these devices were typically made of wood or metal and held rods that were mounted with freely sliding Beads for counting large numbers.
Dating back to circa 500BCE, the counting frame evolved throughout the Middle Ages until its use was widespread throughout the Roman Empire, China and Europe.
The classical abacus had 13 vertical rods, divided by a horizontal bar. The Lower Deck had five beads on each rod and the upper deck had two. From right to left, each lower deck represented tens, hundreds, thousands, millions, billions and so on. Each bead in the upper section was worth five of the beads in the lower section. When a bead was moved towards the bar, it was considered counted.
Calculations were made using the exchange method, whereby lower beads were counted and then exchanged for upper beads, which had higher values. Once the upper beads in the first upper rod were counted, the user moved to the preceding lower deck to repeat the exchange, and so on. This facilitated addition of infinitely high numbers.
The introduction of the Arabic numbering system around 1200CE gradually made its use obsolete as arithmetic gained popularity. However, the modern abacus is still used in China today as a useful learning device for children.
Abacus 2019 2oz Silver Antiqued Coin
Struck from 2oz of 99.99% pure silver, this innovative coin is inset with a representation of an abacus featuring eight sliding beads above the bar and 21 beneath it.
With an antiqued finish, the reverse design depicts travellers riding camels along the Silk Road. Items that were typically traded such as pottery, textiles, fruit, paper, fragrances and spices are portrayed in the foreground.
With a mintage of just 2,500, collectors can count on the fact that this release will be highly sought after!
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