Numismatic and archaeological collecting in northern Sicily during the first half of the nineteenth century

This research examines the archaeological protection system and antiquarian collecting in northern Sicily, in particular in the coastal strip from Palermo to Messina during the first half of the nineteenth century. Substantially, the most represented historical period is the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1814-1861). The strength of the research, which is relevant to the history of Sicilian coin collecting and archaeology, is a substantial set of materials, discovered at the State Archive of Palermo and Fondazione Mandralisca of Cefalù. It comprises 141 archival records, which have been transcribed, ordered and studied thoroughly. Chapter 1 contains a general introduction about Sicilian archaeological protection systems and antiquarianism from the end of the eighteenth century to the post-Unification period. Chapter 2, based mainly on archival records, focuses on Palermo, the most important city of the Bourbon Sicily, where authorities managed and protected island antiquities. Sections describe the collections of Tommaso Gandolfo and Antonino Astuto, acquired by the Museum of the University, and the discovery of coins at Giarre in 1832. Enrico Pirajno's activities at Cefalù and Lipari are also examined in this chapter - he is considered one of the most skilful Sicilian antiquarians during the first half of the nineteenth century. The last section reports a significant numismatic discovery in the Cefalù Valley in 1824. Chapter 4 describes Tindari, where the Sciacca della Scala family led antiquarian research from the late eighteenth century until the late nineteenth century. Their collection of finds, kept in a private museum at the Castle of Scala di Patti is now lost. Chapter 5 discusses Giuseppe Grosso Cacopardo, the well-known coin collector from Messina (including the recent discovery of a special 'export' of ancient coins, found in Messina in 1845, to the King of Bavaria. The work's conclusion offers a final historical reconstruction of the numismatic and archaeological collecting in northern Sicily, according to new and substantial records. Five appendices report archival documentation, arranged in thematic sections

A survey of the material and intellectual consequences of trading in undocumented ancient coins : a case study on the North American trade

Ancient coins are among the most widely collected and demanded objects among American collectors of antiquities. A vocal lobby of ancient coin dealers/collectors has arisen to protect the importation of undocumented material into the United States and also seeks to make a distinction between antiquities trafficking and that in ancient coins. Coins are an equally important historical source and are no less important 'antiquities' than a Greek painted vase. I examine the scale of the trade in ancient coins in North America and address some points made by proponents of a continued unfettered ancient coin trade

Ephesus and its coinage

The following is from an article in the Saturday Review, from Head's "Ephesus and Its Coinage," and serves to show the importance numismatics occupies as a key to historical problems

Book review: Kushan, Kushano-Sasanian, and Kidarite coins: a catalogue of coins from the American Numismatic Society by David Jongeward and Joe Cribb with Peter Donovan

Accepted manuscrip

Commemorative Metal Money and Monetary Economy

The subject of study of monetary economy is money, its forms and functions and its economic and reproductive role. Since modern money is a very heterogeneous category, an adequate money issue policy makes it possible with particular forms of money to achieve some additional effects. This primarily refers to commemorative coins, the issue of which may bring significant economic effects based on numismatic designs. In this way, this kind of money may get another role in monetary economy. Such approach does not lessen the basic functions of commemorative money, such as the function of preserving value, the function of a means of transaction, the function of a means of payment or its commercial function. Planned activities in relation to the introduction of cash money, including commemorative coinage, iil most European Union countries in the year 2002, among other things, will also have important influence on Croatian money issue policy regarding commemorative coinage. The reasons for this are the development of money issue activities in the sphere of coinage, especially in the segment of commemorative coins in the European Union countries, and the readiness of Croatia to participate in that association. It will therefore be necessary to harmonize Croatian money issue policy in the sphere of commemorative coinage with the unified policy of these countries that is now being profiled.commemorative metal money; numismatics; numismatic marke; money issue; monetary economy

The Bahmani “currency reform” of the early fifteenth century in light of the Akola hoard

Accepted manuscrip

Requests of Brown by LC Classification: July 2009

Requests of Brown from other HELIN libraries - July 200