Ancient Numismatics
A.Y. 2020/2021
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
Lessons will take place mostly on web and in sync in Microsoft Teams platform 'Numismatica Antica 2020/2021' (access code: 6i82g7v). There will be some meetings in person, with simultaneous streaming: the precise timetable will be published on Microsoft Teams class by the teacher. Students will find all the information to access the lessons (link etc.), any changes to the program or to the reference material (bibliography etc.) on the Ariel platform and on the Microsoft Teams class. If it will be not possible to take the exam according to the methods provided in the Syllabus, the exam will take place in a specific Microsoft Teams class.
Course syllabus
The course includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:
A (20 h): Introduction to Ancient Numismatics
B (20 h): Fundamentals of Greek and Roman Numismatics
C (20 h): The Athenian owls
The first part of the course (A) provides basic vocabulary and fundaments of Numismatics, in connection with economic, political and social history and with the world of archaeology.
The second part (B) will focus on the presentation of the most significant phases of the monetary history of the Greek and Roman world.
The last part (C) will examine some themes of the monetary history of Athens from the first appearances of coinage in the sixth century BC until 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 Athens.
The student can attend 40 hours (A+B) to obtain 6 ECTS, 60 hours (A+B+C) to earn 9 ECTS. It is not possible to obtain only 3 ECTS.
Attendance to the course, though optional, is strongly recommended.
A (20 h): Introduction to Ancient Numismatics
B (20 h): Fundamentals of Greek and Roman Numismatics
C (20 h): The Athenian owls
The first part of the course (A) provides basic vocabulary and fundaments of Numismatics, in connection with economic, political and social history and with the world of archaeology.
The second part (B) will focus on the presentation of the most significant phases of the monetary history of the Greek and Roman world.
The last part (C) will examine some themes of the monetary history of Athens from the first appearances of coinage in the sixth century BC until 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 Athens.
The student can attend 40 hours (A+B) to obtain 6 ECTS, 60 hours (A+B+C) to earn 9 ECTS. It is not possible to obtain only 3 ECTS.
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 hours. Gradually students will be invited to participate actively in the analysis and discussion of specific topics, using notions gained during the first hours. 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 recognise 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 and to catalogue the coins.
The materials presented and discussed during the lessons will be uploaded on a Microsoft Teams class specifically developed.
There will be exercises in describing and cataloguing coins: in this way the student will learn to manage and to catalogue the coins.
The materials presented and discussed during the lessons will be uploaded on a Microsoft Teams class specifically developed.
Teaching Resources
A. Attending students
Students who intend to take the 6 ECTS exam (A+B) must study the lecture notes, the materials discussed during the course and texts 1 and 2; students who intend to take the 9 ECTS exam (A+B+C) must study the lecture notes, the related materials and texts 1, 2, 3.
1) R. Cantilena, La moneta in Grecia e a Roma. Appunti di numismatica antica, Monduzzi editore, Milano 2011 [or other editions].
2) A. Savio, Monete romane, Jouvence, Milano 2014 [or other editions].
3) P. van Alfen, The Coinage of Athens, Sixth to First Century B.C., in W.E. Metcalf (ed. by), The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2012, pp. 88-104 [available on the website: https://numismatics.academia.edu/PeterVanAlfen]
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, 9.
5) R. Cantilena, La moneta in Grecia e a Roma. Appunti di numismatica antica, Monduzzi editore, Milano 2011 [or other editions]
6) A. Savio, Monete romane, Jouvence, Roma 2002 [or other editions]
7) W.H. Harris, Una prospettiva revisionistica della moneta romana, "Rivista di Storia Economica" 22/3 (2006), pp. 287-306
8) P. van Alfen, The Coinage of Athens, Sixth to First Century B.C., in W.E. Metcalf (ed. by), The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2012, pp. 88-104 [available on the website: https://numismatics.academia.edu/PeterVanAlfen]
9) P. van Alfen, Hatching owls: Athenian public finance and the regulation of coin production in later fifth-century Athens, in F. de Callataÿ (ed. by), Quantifying monetary supplies in Greco-Roman times. Pragmateiai, no. 19 (2011), pp. 127-149 [available on the website: https://numismatics.academia.edu/PeterVanAlfen]
Students who intend to take the 6 ECTS exam (A+B) must study the lecture notes, the materials discussed during the course and texts 1 and 2; students who intend to take the 9 ECTS exam (A+B+C) must study the lecture notes, the related materials and texts 1, 2, 3.
1) R. Cantilena, La moneta in Grecia e a Roma. Appunti di numismatica antica, Monduzzi editore, Milano 2011 [or other editions].
2) A. Savio, Monete romane, Jouvence, Milano 2014 [or other editions].
3) P. van Alfen, The Coinage of Athens, Sixth to First Century B.C., in W.E. Metcalf (ed. by), The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2012, pp. 88-104 [available on the website: https://numismatics.academia.edu/PeterVanAlfen]
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, 9.
5) R. Cantilena, La moneta in Grecia e a Roma. Appunti di numismatica antica, Monduzzi editore, Milano 2011 [or other editions]
6) A. Savio, Monete romane, Jouvence, Roma 2002 [or other editions]
7) W.H. Harris, Una prospettiva revisionistica della moneta romana, "Rivista di Storia Economica" 22/3 (2006), pp. 287-306
8) P. van Alfen, The Coinage of Athens, Sixth to First Century B.C., in W.E. Metcalf (ed. by), The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2012, pp. 88-104 [available on the website: https://numismatics.academia.edu/PeterVanAlfen]
9) P. van Alfen, Hatching owls: Athenian public finance and the regulation of coin production in later fifth-century Athens, in F. de Callataÿ (ed. by), Quantifying monetary supplies in Greco-Roman times. Pragmateiai, no. 19 (2011), pp. 127-149 [available on the website: https://numismatics.academia.edu/PeterVanAlfen]
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.
The evaluation of the oral interview is expressed in 30/30.
The evaluation of the oral interview is expressed in 30/30.
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)