Monograms have been in style since ancient times—first appearing on early Greek and Roman coins, which often featured the initials of rulers or the first two letters of a city or town.

Ernst Herzfeld Papers / Series 2: Sketchbooks / 2.1: Persien / FSA A.06 02.01.06: SK-VI Persien Ernst Herzfeld Papers. FSA.A.06. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, ...