Ancient Numismatics
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge of the history of ancient coins, mainly with reference to the Greek and Roman world.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: Students will made aware of the main problems related to coins and coinages in the ancient world, the differences with the contemporary world, some elementary notions of economics and the connection between archeology, history and numismatics.
Skills: Students will learn to manage the coin object within the archaeological excavation and how to catalogue coins; they will learn the basic and current Italian laws about the management of the coins as an archaeological item.
Skills: Students will learn to manage the coin object within the archaeological excavation and how to catalogue coins; they will learn the basic and current Italian laws about the management of the coins as an archaeological item.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:
Teaching Unit A (20 h; 3 ECTS): Introduction to Ancient Numismatics
Teaching Unit B (20 h; 3 ECTS): Fundamentals of Greek and Roman Numismatics
Teaching Unit C (20 h; 3 ECTS): Egyptian Coins and Coins from Egypt
Teaching Unit A provides basic vocabulary and fundaments of Numismatics, in connection with economic, political and social history and with the world of archaeology.
Teaching Unit B will focus on the presentation of the most significant phases of the monetary history of the Greek and Roman world.
The third Unit will examine some themes of the monetary history of Greco-Roman Egypt from the first appearances of the late sixth century BC until the major changes of the third century AD. The analysis of the hoards and the interpretation of data from archaeological excavations are fundamental for the reconstruction of monetary dynamics and, therefore, economic dynamics of ancient Egypt.
The student can attend Teaching Units A and B to obtain 6 ECTS, Teaching Units A, B and C to earn 9 ECTS. It is not possible to obtain only 3 ECTS (following a single Teaching Unit).
Attendance to the course, though optional, is strongly recommended.
Teaching Unit A (20 h; 3 ECTS): Introduction to Ancient Numismatics
Teaching Unit B (20 h; 3 ECTS): Fundamentals of Greek and Roman Numismatics
Teaching Unit C (20 h; 3 ECTS): Egyptian Coins and Coins from Egypt
Teaching Unit A provides basic vocabulary and fundaments of Numismatics, in connection with economic, political and social history and with the world of archaeology.
Teaching Unit B will focus on the presentation of the most significant phases of the monetary history of the Greek and Roman world.
The third Unit will examine some themes of the monetary history of Greco-Roman Egypt from the first appearances of the late sixth century BC until the major changes of the third century AD. The analysis of the hoards and the interpretation of data from archaeological excavations are fundamental for the reconstruction of monetary dynamics and, therefore, economic dynamics of ancient Egypt.
The student can attend Teaching Units A and B to obtain 6 ECTS, Teaching Units A, B and C to earn 9 ECTS. It is not possible to obtain only 3 ECTS (following a single Teaching Unit).
Attendance to the course, though optional, is strongly recommended.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of Greek and Roman History.
Teaching methods
Lectures of Ancient Numismatics for undergraduate students are given according to the traditional method of frontal teaching, especially during the first Teaching Unit when the fundamentals of the discipline are defined and detailed. In the second Unit, and more so in the third, students will be invited to participate actively in the analysis and discussion of specific topics, using notions gained during the first Unit. This teaching method will provide the expected skills in order to transform the student from passive user and "buyer" of information to active and critical interpreter of numismatics. Also, this method will provide students with the basic knowledge to recognize and read ancient coins as real objects set in a coherent historical, archaeological and economic context.
There will be exercises in describing and cataloguing coins: in this way the student will learn to manage coins within the archaeological excavations and how to catalogue coins.
The materials presented and discussed during the lessons will be uploaded on Ariel.
There will be exercises in describing and cataloguing coins: in this way the student will learn to manage coins within the archaeological excavations and how to catalogue coins.
The materials presented and discussed during the lessons will be uploaded on Ariel.
Teaching Resources
A. Attending students
Students who intend to take the 6 ECTS exam must study the lecture notes and texts 1 and 2; students who intend to take the 9 ECTS exam must study the lecture notes and texts 1, 2, 3, 4.
Teaching Unit A:
1) R. Cantilena, La moneta in Grecia e a Roma. Appunti di numismatica antica, Monduzzi editore, Milano 2011 [or other editions].
Teaching Unit B
2) A. Savio, Monete romane, Jouvence, Milano 2014 [or other editions].
Teaching Unit C
3) A.K. Bowman, L'Egitto dopo i Faraoni. Da Alessandro Magno alla conquista araba (332 a.C.-642 d.C.), Firenze 1988 [or other editions].
4) C.C. Lorber, The Coinage of the Ptolemies, in E.W. Metcalf (ed. by), The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage, Oxford 2011, pp. 211-234.
B. Non-attending students
Non-attending students who intend to take the 6 ECTS exam must study texts 5, 6, 7; non-attending students who intend to take the 9 ECTS exam must study texts 5, 6, 7, 8.
Teaching Unit A:
5) R. Cantilena, La moneta in Grecia e a Roma. Appunti di numismatica antica, Monduzzi editore, Milano 2011 [or other editions].
Teaching Unit B
6) A. Savio, Monete romane, Jouvence, Milano 2014 [or other editions].
7) W.H. Harris, Una prospettiva revisionistica della moneta romana, "Rivista di Storia Economica" 22/3 (2006), pp. 287-306
Teaching Unit C
8) C. Howgego, La storia antica attraverso le monete, Quasar, Rome 2002
Students who intend to take the 6 ECTS exam must study the lecture notes and texts 1 and 2; students who intend to take the 9 ECTS exam must study the lecture notes and texts 1, 2, 3, 4.
Teaching Unit A:
1) R. Cantilena, La moneta in Grecia e a Roma. Appunti di numismatica antica, Monduzzi editore, Milano 2011 [or other editions].
Teaching Unit B
2) A. Savio, Monete romane, Jouvence, Milano 2014 [or other editions].
Teaching Unit C
3) A.K. Bowman, L'Egitto dopo i Faraoni. Da Alessandro Magno alla conquista araba (332 a.C.-642 d.C.), Firenze 1988 [or other editions].
4) C.C. Lorber, The Coinage of the Ptolemies, in E.W. Metcalf (ed. by), The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage, Oxford 2011, pp. 211-234.
B. Non-attending students
Non-attending students who intend to take the 6 ECTS exam must study texts 5, 6, 7; non-attending students who intend to take the 9 ECTS exam must study texts 5, 6, 7, 8.
Teaching Unit A:
5) R. Cantilena, La moneta in Grecia e a Roma. Appunti di numismatica antica, Monduzzi editore, Milano 2011 [or other editions].
Teaching Unit B
6) A. Savio, Monete romane, Jouvence, Milano 2014 [or other editions].
7) W.H. Harris, Una prospettiva revisionistica della moneta romana, "Rivista di Storia Economica" 22/3 (2006), pp. 287-306
Teaching Unit C
8) C. Howgego, La storia antica attraverso le monete, Quasar, Rome 2002
Assessment methods and Criteria
Ancient Numismatics encompasses an oral exam that will focus on the topics dealt with during the course and/or texts provided in the bibliography. During the exam, students must prove that they have learned the fundamentals of the discipline and must demonstrate that they have reached a global and specific knowledge of the monetary dynamics in antiquity. Students must also be able to contextualise the ancient coinages within their specific socio-economic and historical framework. During the interview students must also recognise and describe an ancient coin: this will be done using the materials presented during the course or on the basis of the photographic materials included in the texts recommended for preparation. Assessment will be based on the following criteria: ability to present the acquired knowledge in a critical and not passive view; capacity for critical reasoning on the study carried out; quality of presentation; competence in the use of specialised vocabulary.
Marks are out of 30.
Marks are out of 30.
Unita' didattica A
L-ANT/04 - NUMISMATICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-ANT/04 - NUMISMATICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-ANT/04 - NUMISMATICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)