History of Medieval and Modern Coins

A.Y. 2024/2025
9
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
L-ANT/04
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide a framework of the history of medieval and modern coinage by directing students to bibliographical, lexical, written and numismatic sources and research methods. A suitable knowledge of the material will be made possible through practical experience with a collection of ancient, medieval and modern coins combined with the materials examined in the course.
Expected learning outcomes
The course presents students with materials and methods for the study of medieval and modern coinage: given the nature of coins, which circulate across human culture, one observes the wide picture of Italy and the Mediterranean which can be compared with other parts of Europe. The study of coins as metal documents makes it possible to capture historical aspects relevant to the fields of political economy, political culture, law, iconography, technology and even ritual and devotion. The written sources are numerous (merchant, literary texts, money changer books, mint ordinances, diaries, etc.); numismatic sources can also be treasures or coins from excavation or collection. With practical examples related to diverse regions and periods, students will be able to verify in practice the methodologies and research possibilities in the field, always relating back to written and numismatic sources. The course is set within a framework of continuous participation and dialogue, as well as with materials entrusted to students for personal exploration to be exhibited in the classroom. There will be seminary activities based on both the collections of coins and specific written sources, which are to be examined from time to time. At the end of the course, students will be able to place the main monetary phenomena of the long period under consideration within a contextual framework, and to navigate through the bibliographical and critical analysis of the most recent research.
Students opting not to attend the lessons will be able to participate in practical exercises with coins by booking with the instructor; additionally, they can arrange suggested readings to deepen their knowledge by contacting the instructor by email or during office hours.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Title of the course: Microcosms of History: Coins as Sources for Medieval and Modern History

Module 1: Research methodology and methods: numismatic, written and archaeological sources. Overview of the History of Italian and European Coinage between Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Material and technique, production and circulation: coins as medium and tool of medieval economies. Text and images: coins as means of communication of power; comparison with seals.

Module 2: Overview of the History of Italian Coins between the late Middle Ages and the Modern period. Material and technique, production and circulation: coins as medium and tool of late medieval and modern economies. Fake Coins, Imitations and Counterfeits between the Late Middle Ages and the Modern Age. Counting coins, changing, pricing in the merchants 'pratiche' and in other late medieval texts.

Module 3: Economic and 'non-economic' uses of coins: coins for the study of social and cultural aspects; 'ritual' uses of coins, tokens and seals. Coins and war, between economics, politics and culture: coins for war economies, coinage 'for spite', obsidian mints and siege money.
Prerequisites for admission
Students will have a basic knowledge of medieval and modern history, and ability to read and understand Italian and English languages. Latin not required.
Teaching methods
The Professor will illustrate the role of coins by placing them in their historical, geographical, and iconographic context, showing their use by sovereigns and commoners, lay and clerics, and their relationships with the artistic production of the time. The economic functions and other non-economic uses of coins will also be illustrated in the context of the political, social and cultural history of the medieval and modern age.
Attendance to classes is strongly recommended although not compulsory. The teaching is delivered through frontal lectures with the aid of images and slide presentations aimed primarily at the acquisition of knowledge, skills and language specific of the subject matter. Discussion with the teacher in the classroom is an integral part of the teaching method and aims at promoting a critical attitude and the capacity to apply the acquired competence and knowledge.
The teaching is also based on multimedia material provided on Ariel. In addition to frontal lectures, classroom exercises with coins (medieval and modern coins from the teaching collection), team works and/or individual presentations are planned.
Teaching Resources
Attending students:
* Programme for 9 cfu
- Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (modules 1, 2 and 3)
- Textbooks and other texts (modules 1, 2 and 3):
Module 1
- L. Travaini, Monete e storia nell'Italia medievale, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato 2007, Chapters 1-6, pp. 11-146; (errata-corrige pdf available in the course area ARIEL-UniMi);
- C.M. Cipolla, Le avventure della lira, Bologna, Il Mulino 1975, pp. 13-76 (or other editions ).
Plus, one of the following texts:
- A. Rovelli, From the Fall of Rome to Charlemagne (c.400- 800), in R. Naismith (ed.), Money and Coinage in the Middle Ages, Leiden, Brill 2018, pp. 63-92 (available in open access pdf format: https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004383098/BP000006.xml);
- P. Spufford, Money and its use in Medieval Europe, Cambridge 1988, Chapter 2 pp. 27-54, or Chapter 5, pp. 109-131 (in part available on Google Books platform).
- M. Baldassarri, Le monete di Lucca. Dal periodo longobardo al Trecento, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), All'Insegna del Giglio 2021, capitoli 2-4, pp. 13-100 (disponibile in formato pdf open access: https://www.insegnadelgiglio.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/monoarc-134-ebook-libro.pdf);

Module 2
- L. Travaini, Monete e storia nell'Italia medievale, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato 2007, Chapters 7-9, 11, pp. 149-208, 221-256.
- A. Finetti, Numismatica e tecnologia. Produzione e valutazione della moneta nelle società del passato, Roma, NIS 1987, Chapters 2,3, pp. 21-134 (pdf available in the course area ARIEL-UniMi).
Plus, one of the following texts:
- P. Spufford, Money and its use in medieval Europe, Cambridge 1988, Chapters 6,7, pp. 132-186 (parzialmente disponibile su Google Books);
- M. Baldassarri, I. Carli, Zecche clandestine e falsari nel Medioevo: dati storici e archeologici sulla Toscana e aree limitrofe, in M. Baldassarri (a cura di), Massa di Maremma e la Toscana nel basso Medioevo: zecche, monete ed economia, Firenze 2019, pp. 65-76 (pdf available in the course area ARIEL-UniMi).
- L. Travaini, Monete mercanti e matematica: Le monete medievali nei trattati di aritmetica e nei libri di mercatura, Roma, Jouvence 2020, pp. XI-XL, 35-81.

Module 3
- L. Travaini, Monete e storia nell'Italia medievale, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato 2007, Chapter 12, pp. 257-281.
- A. Montagano, La moneta, i soldati e la guerra. Una breve riflessione sulla centralità del ruolo della moneta nei conflitti in Toscana tra XIII e XVI secolo, in L. Giannoni (a cura di), Guerre e monete. Basso medioevo ed età moderna, Bari 2023, pp. 63-85.
Plus, one of the following texts:
- M. Baldassarri, I rinvenimenti monetali nelle chiese italiane (VII-XVII secolo): un primo bilancio e qualche considerazione di metodo, "Archeologia medievale" 47 (2020), pp. 29-48 (pdf available in the course area ARIEL-UniMi);
- I. Taddei, Recalling the Affront. Rituals of War in Italy in the Age of the Communes, in S. Cohn Jr., F. Ricciardelli (eds), The Culture of Violence in Renaissance Italy, Proceedings of the international conference (Georgetown University at Villa Le Balze, 3-4 May 2010), Firenze 2012, pp. 81-98: https://www.academia.edu/20327115/Recalling_the_Affront_Rituals_of_War_in_Italy_in_the_Age_of_the_Communes
- M. Mitchiner, A. Skinner, English tokens, c. 1200 to 1425, "British Numismatic Journal" 53 (1983), pp. 29-77 (free download from the British Numismatic Society website:
https://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/1983_BNJ_53_7.pdf ).

** Programme for 6 cfu:
- Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (modules 1 and 2)
- Textbooks and other texts texts as 9 Cfu (modules 1 and 2), but:
Module 1
- L. Travaini, Monete e storia nell'Italia medievale, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 2007, Chapters 1-5, pp. 11-134 (NOT end Chpater 5 and Chapter 6).
Module 2
- L. Travaini, Monete e storia nell'Italia medievale, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 2007, Chapters 7, 9, 11, pp. 149-180, 193-208, 221-256. (NOT Chapter 8)

Non-attending students:
* Programme for 9 cfu
- Knowledge of textbooks and other texts (modules 1,2 and 3):
Module 1
- L. Travaini, Monete e storia nell'Italia medievale, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato 2007, Chapters 1-6, pp. 11-146; (errata-corrige pdf available in the course area ARIEL-UniMi);
- C.M. Cipolla, Le avventure della lira, Bologna, Il Mulino 1975, pp. 13-76 (or other editions ).
Plus, two of the following texts:
- A. Rovelli, From the Fall of Rome to Charlemagne (c.400- 800), in R. Naismith (ed.), Money and Coinage in the Middle Ages, Leiden, Brill 2018, pp. 63-92 (available in open access pdf format: https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004383098/BP000006.xml);
- P.R. Rössner, From the Black Death to the New World (c.1350- 1500), in R. Naismith (ed.), Money and Coinage in the Middle Ages, Leiden, Brill 2018, pp. 63-92 (available in open access pdf format: https://brill.com/display/book/9789004383098/BP000009.xml );
- P. Spufford, Money and its use in Medieval Europe, Cambridge 1988, Chapter 2 pp. 27-54, or Chapter 5, pp. 109-131 (partly available on Google Books).
- M. Baldassarri, Le monete di Lucca. Dal periodo longobardo al Trecento, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), All'Insegna del Giglio 2021, capitoli 2-4, pp. 13-100 (disponibile in formato pdf open access: https://www.insegnadelgiglio.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/monoarc-134-ebook-libro.pdf);

Module 2
- L. Travaini, Monete e storia nell'Italia medievale, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato 2007, Chapters 7-9, 11, pp. 149-208, 221-256.
- A. Finetti, Numismatica e tecnologia. Produzione e valutazione della moneta nelle società del passato, Roma, NIS 1987, Chapters 2,3, pp. 21-134 (pdf available in the course area ARIEL-UniMi).
Plus, two of the following texts:
- P. Spufford, Money and its use in medieval Europe, Cambridge 1988, Chapters 6,7, pp. 132-186 (partly available on Google Books);
- M. Baldassarri, I. Carli, Zecche clandestine e falsari nel Medioevo: dati storici e archeologici sulla Toscana e aree limitrofe, in M. Baldassarri (a cura di), Massa di Maremma e la Toscana nel basso Medioevo: zecche, monete ed economia, Firenze 2019, pp. 65-76 (disponibile nell'area ARIEL-UniMi dell'insegnamento).
- L. Travaini, Monete mercanti e matematica: Le monete medievali nei trattati di aritmetica e nei libri di mercatura, Roma, Jouvence 2020, pp. XI-XL, 35-81.

Module 3
- L. Travaini, Monete e storia nell'Italia medievale, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato 2007, Chapter 12, pp. 257-281.
- L. Travaini, a cura di, Valori e disvalori simbolici delle monete. I trenta denari di Giuda, Roma, Quasar 2009, pp. 13-78.
- A. Montagano, La moneta, i soldati e la guerra. Una breve riflessione sulla centralità del ruolo della moneta nei conflitti in Toscana tra XIII e XVI secolo , in L. Giannoni (a cura di), Guerre e monete. Bassomedioevo ed età moderna, Bari 2023, pp. 63-85.
Plus, two of the following texts:
- M. Baldassarri, I rinvenimenti monetali nelle chiese italiane (VII-XVII secolo): un primo bilancio e qualche considerazione di metodo, "Archeologia medievale" 47 (2020), pp. 29-48 (pdf available in the course area ARIEL-UniMi);
- A. De Gasperi, La moneta in tomba nella Toscana centro-settentrionale tra Alto- e Basso-medioevo, "Archeologia Medievale", XXXIX (2012), pp. 337-354 (pdf available on Academia.edu platform): https://www.academia.edu/3217945/La_moneta_in_tomba_nella_Toscana_centro_settentrionale_tra_Alto_e_Bassomedioevo );
- I. Taddei, Recalling the Affront. Rituals of War in Italy in the Age of the Communes, in S. Cohn Jr., F. Ricciardelli (eds), The Culture of Violence in Renaissance Italy, Proceedings of the international conference (Georgetown University at Villa Le Balze, 3-4 May 2010), Firenze 2012, pp. 81-98: https://www.academia.edu/20327115/Recalling_the_Affront_Rituals_of_War_in_Italy_in_the_Age_of_the_Communes
- M. Mitchiner, A. Skinner, English tokens, c. 1200 to 1425, "British Numismatic Journal" 53 (1983), pp. 29-77 (pdf available on the British Numismatic Society website: https://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/1983_BNJ_53_7.pdf ).

** Programme for 6 cfu:
- Knowledge of the textbooks and other texts as 9 Cfu (module 1 and 2), but:
Module 1
- L. Travaini, Monete e storia nell'Italia medievale, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 2007, Chapters 1-5, pp. 11-134 (NOT end Chapter 5 and Chapter 6).
Module 2
- L. Travaini, Monete e storia nell'Italia medievale, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 2007, Chapters 7, 9, 11, pp. 149-180, 193-208, 221-256. (NOT Chapter 8)

International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
- Method: oral exam.
- Type of examination: an interview on the topics of the syllabus, to ascertain knowledge of method and interpretation, historical-chronological competence and the ability to correctly describe and contextualize the coins illustrated in the texts.

- Evaluation criteria: ability to process acquired knowledge and discursively organise concepts; ability to reflect critically on work undertaken; quality of exposition, competence in the use of the vocabulary of the discipline, communicative effectiveness, and clarity.
- Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s.
- Other tests that contribute to the final assessment (only for students attending the 9 cfu course): carrying out a research projects related to the topics of modules 2 and 3 of the course on a subject agreed with the lecturer and presentation of the results in the classroom (group work up to a maximum of 3 persons or individual work possible). This will entail a reduction in the texts scheduled for the final oral examination, to be agreed with the lecturer. In this case, the final assessment will consist of the average of this test with the final interview.
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as with the relevant office.
L-ANT/04 - NUMISMATICS - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor: Baldassarri Monica