Mint activity in Florence is exceptionally well-documented from the beginning of the fourteenth century until the end of the republican era in 1533, most notably in the so-called Fiorinaio or Libro della Zecca, a register of mint personnel and the privy marks used on the coins. The mint scribe who began the Libro della Zecca and assembled the earlier material going back to 1303 was nevertheless unable to find much information on the mint and its coinage before that time. To narrow down the dating of these early florins, it is necessary to turn to the hoard evidence. The Alberese hoard of seventy-six gold florins, discovered in 1932 near Grosseto-Italy, is exceptionally important because it adds to the small number of known florin hoards that were closed during the coin‘s first half-century (Pisa, Aleppo, Akko, Pavia). In fact, it is the only one completely recovered (most of the coins of other hoards were dispersed in the antiquarian market). Although originally dated to 1347, this new study clearly establishes that the hoard was closed before 1290-95, making it a good sample for the study of gold florins of the period of ―unknown mintmasters‖. Closer examination of privy marks, epigraphy and style of coins reveals new data. Some privy marks can better be identified with those described in the Libro della Zecca not previously identified and it is possible to propose a possible chronology of different issues. Research on documents of that time has also revealed the possible origins of the hoard.

The Alberese hoard. Seventy-six gold florins of the second half of 13th century

Massimo De Benetti
2017-01-01

Abstract

Mint activity in Florence is exceptionally well-documented from the beginning of the fourteenth century until the end of the republican era in 1533, most notably in the so-called Fiorinaio or Libro della Zecca, a register of mint personnel and the privy marks used on the coins. The mint scribe who began the Libro della Zecca and assembled the earlier material going back to 1303 was nevertheless unable to find much information on the mint and its coinage before that time. To narrow down the dating of these early florins, it is necessary to turn to the hoard evidence. The Alberese hoard of seventy-six gold florins, discovered in 1932 near Grosseto-Italy, is exceptionally important because it adds to the small number of known florin hoards that were closed during the coin‘s first half-century (Pisa, Aleppo, Akko, Pavia). In fact, it is the only one completely recovered (most of the coins of other hoards were dispersed in the antiquarian market). Although originally dated to 1347, this new study clearly establishes that the hoard was closed before 1290-95, making it a good sample for the study of gold florins of the period of ―unknown mintmasters‖. Closer examination of privy marks, epigraphy and style of coins reveals new data. Some privy marks can better be identified with those described in the Libro della Zecca not previously identified and it is possible to propose a possible chronology of different issues. Research on documents of that time has also revealed the possible origins of the hoard.
2017
Proceedings of XV International Numismatic Congress: Taormina 2015
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10278/3708539
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