A Hoard of Roman Denari Provisini Preserved in the Capitoline Museum, Rome

The NumismaticChronicle 174

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L O N D O NT H E R O YA L N U M I S M AT I C S O C I E T Y

2 0 1 4

A Hoard of Roman Denari Provisini Preserved in the Capitoline Museum, Rome

by

MARIELE VALCI

A HOARD OF ROMAN DENARI PROVISINI PRESERVED IN THE CAPITOLINE MUSEUM, ROME

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A Hoard of Roman Denari Provisini Preserved in the Capitoline Museum, Rome

MARIELE VALCI

The discovery and preservation of the hoard

AMONG THE NUMISMATIC finds kept in the Capitoline Museums, an unpublished hoard consisting of 435 denari provisini issued by the Roman Senate and two denari of Ancona is of particular interest.1 It was discovered in Rome in the 1870s during construction works to renovate and enlarge the city for its new role as Italy’s capital.

There is insufficient documentation to determine the exact place where the hoard was discovered, or how it came into the collections of the Capitoline Museums. The only available sources consist of a City Council resolution approved on the 21 August 1876,2 a short notice by Émile Caron in his work on French feudal coinage and a reference in Edoardo Martinori’s treatise on the issues of the Roman Senate.3

The resolution records the acquisition of some ancient objects presented to the Capitoline Museums by Augusto Castellani, to enrich both the Museum’s rooms and the numismatic department. A year before becoming Director of the Capitoline Museums in 1873, Augusto Castellani had founded a coin cabinet in the Capitoline Museums (Medagliere Capitolino) by donating his personal collection. Before that the only public coin collection in Rome was in the Vatican. Castellani had also taken part in the establishment of the Commissione Archeologica Comunale and was one of the prominent representatives in charge of the management of communal archaeology in Rome. The resolution specifies 656 silver coins. They are described as a collection of twelfth and thirteenth century items coming from an ‘uncertain location in Rome’. The 437 coins of the hoard could be identified with this collection as they are the only numismatic material kept in the Capitoline Museums, characterized as being of uncertain origin and not belonging to the nucleus of the so-called ‘Sottosuolo Urbano 2’ or to the material assembled in the course of the excavations carried out by the Governatorato.

A further 161 Roman denari provisini have recently been found in the Medagliere Capitolino. They were in an envelope with no indication of origin, inside a cabinet which was different from the one used for the storage of the 437 coins in question. As the 161 Roman denari provisini show iconographical and epighraphic characteristics,

1 The hoard consists of 435 denari provisini, 2 denari anconetani and 1 bolognino (inventory number: Med 19226) minted in L’Aquila by Joanna II of Anjou. The bolognino is deemed to be an intrusive coin.

2 Bullettino Archeologico Comunale 3, n. 4. Resolution of 21 August 1876. A list of the numismatic material presented by Augusto Castellani to the Capitoline Museums is in Molinari 2004, p. 120.

3 Caron 1882, pp. 343–4; Martinori 1930, p. 248.

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weight and condition very similar to those observed in the 437 coins, it looks as though the 161 denari provisini belong to the same hoard. Since the resolution specifies 656 coins a hoard of 598 (437+161) pieces gets closer to the original description.4

In an appendix to his Monnaies Féodales Françaises concerning the Roman Senate’s denari provisini, Caron touches on the existence of a hoard preserved in the Capitoline Museums. He asserts it had been discovered in Rome during some building work. Caron complains about the Medagliere’s refusal to consent to the examination of the hoard, ‘in spite of the availability of Mister Castellani’. Perhaps Caron was denied the authorization to study the 437 coins because of the circumstances that characterised the management of archaeological heritage in Rome during this period. The city had been divided into two areas: the first one was under government control, and the second under municipal jurisdiction. Consequently, different management methods were applied, often resulting in reciprocal conflict. In addition Rome’s archeological heritage was also subject to negotiations by which ancient objects found in areas under State jurisdiction might end up in the collections of museums under communal jurisdiction.5

Castellani’s attitude must be considered in this context. An enthusiastic collector, he devoted himself to the enrichment of the Capitoline collections. Sometimes this enthusiasm had led him into barely legal negotiations, disguised by unsatisfactory documentation, to enable him acquire archaeological finds from areas under the jurisdiction of the State or from private collections.6 One can imagine that the 437 coins of the hoard, discovered in an area under state jurisdiction, were surreptitiously bought by Castellani for the Capitoline Museums. This would explain why the Medagliere Capitolino would not allow Caron to examine the hoard and why both the documents concerning the 437 coins, and the context of discovery, are so vague.

Martinori adds a few details. According to him, the hoard of provisini was exhibited ‘nel Museo Capitolino, sala della Numismatica’ around 1930 and the coins were arranged in accordance with Camillo Serafini’s classification.7

The early provisini to 12788

A revolution in 1143 resulted in the establishment of a commune in Rome and a new Roman Senate. Under its authority the striking of coins began again after an interval of nearly two centuries. Minting apparently started in 1184 but the Roman mint and

4 The study of the 161 additional denari provisini is still in progress and their catalogue cards (inventory numbers: Med20164 – Med20251) can be consulted on the web-site: http://museicapitolini.net/records_fulltext.xql?query=provisino

5 Molinari 2010, pp. 15–53.6 Molinari 2004, pp. 115–17. Another example of discrepeancies in Castellani’s management concerns

the donation by him of some aes grave. The Bullettino Archeologico Comunale of 1872 mentions 133 pieces of aes grave; and yet the memorandum written on 18 February 1876, concerning their acquition gives only 64 pieces. They were officially accepted by the City Council on 21 August 1876.

7 The Medagliere archives do not seem to contain any medieval coin catalogue by Serafini. It is possible that the hoard had been examined by him and his cards later moved elsewhere together with other catalogues (e.g. the Bignami collection). Molinari 2010, p. 17, n. 42.

8 The most recent studies are Day 2011; Sissia and Giarante 2013a; Sissia and Giarante 2013b. The older literature is listed by Travaini 2011.


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its issues were only officially recognised by Pope Clement III (1187–91) in 1188.9 The design of the new coins was based on the type minted in Provins for the counts of Champagne known in Italy as ‘denari provisini’. Their circulation was already widespread in Central Italy by c.1150 and the new mint simply copied an established type.

Fig. 1. Counts of Champagne Thibaut II (1125–52) and Henry I (1152–80)

The first Roman provisino is a unique coin struck in the name of Pietro II di Vico. He was prefect of Rome from 1186 to 1228 and, Angelo Finetti, argues the coins were probably minted during the first year of his prefecture (1186/7).10 The coin closely copies those of the counts of Champagne.11

Obv. PETRVS DEI GRATIA cross pattée in a pelleted border with two large pellets in first and fourth quarter, degenerate omega in second and degenerate alpha in third quarter.

Rev. PREFECTVS VRBIS comb surmounted by T formed of three wedges, a pelleted border.

9 Pierre Toubert has proposed dating the first Senatorial issues to 1176/7 but Travaini is unconvinced. Toubert 1973, p. 583. Travaini 2011, p. 1079.

10 Finetti, ‘Denari provisini del Senato Romano’, unpublished paper. A copy is available in the Coin and Medal Department of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

11 For Pietro II di Vico’s issue see Muntoni 1967, pp. 123–9; Day 2011, p. 240, n. 8.

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Fig. 2. Provisino of Pietro II di Vico 1186/712

The production of Pietro’s coin was followed by the first issue of denari provisini struck in the name of the Roman Senate. This was still very close in design to the French original and is known from only three examples.13

Fig. 3. The earliest senatorial provisino

Obv. SENATVSøPøQøRø cross pattée with large pellets in first and fourth quarters, degenerate omega and alpha in second and third.

Rev. ROMACAPVTMVN comb surmounted by V formed of wedges between inverted crescents in a pelleted border.

These two issues were followed by a much larger one, which imitated the French type less slavishly. It shows the letter S, a clear reference to the Roman Senate, which is placed above the comb and there is considerable variation in the symbols and legends. This type is represented by a single example in the Capitoline hoard. As it is the oldest coin in the hoard, it has been designated as ‘Type A’.

A new type of denaro provisino was issued in the name of Charles of Anjou during his second government in Rome (1268–78). The title REX dates the coin to after 1266 and the issue had ended by 1282 when Pope Martin (1281–5) ordered that coins should be struck in Rome only with the special permission of the Church (speciali licentia Sedis Apostolice).14 The provisino minted in the name of Charles has the following characteristics: Obv. + KAROLVS.REX cross pattée with large pellets in first and fourth quarters,

degenerate omega and alpha in second and third, symbols in a cable border. Rev. + SENATVS.P.Q.R. comb with S in a cabled border.

12 Montenapoleone (Milan) Auction 28 February 1984 lot 31.13 One is in the Medagliere Vaticano (Serafini 1910–28, vol. 4, p. 15, no. 480/23c), another was in the

so-called ‘Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione hoard’ and now it is on display in the Medagliere of the Museo Nazionale Romano (Finetti, Denari). The third is in a private collection (Sissia, Giarante 2013b, pp. 15–28).

14 Theiner, 1861, pp. 260–1; Carocci 2008, p. 167.


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Fig. 4. Provisino of Charles of Anjou

The association between the comb and senatorial legend now became a characteristic of the provisini. There are only two exceptions: the issue minted in the name of Cola di Rienzo during the six months of his government (1347), and that struck by Pope Boniface IX (1389–1404).

The later provisini

After Charles of Anjou, the denaro provisino declined in weight and fineness.15 It is these issues which make up the majority of the hoard. The basic varieties, arranged in what appears to be chronological order, are as follows.1. Obv. + SEN ATV‹POPVLV‹Q.R. comb surmounted by S between star and crescent. Rev. + ROMA.CAPVD.MVND‹ cross with no symbols.

Capitoline hoard type B1

2. Obv. + SENATV‹POPVLV‹Q.R. comb surmounted by S between star and crescent. Rev. + ROMA.CAPVD.MVND‹ cross with two globes. Bar of comb with bifurcated

ends and pellet between intersects legend. Not in Capitoline hoard

3. Obv. + SEN AT‹POPVL‹Q.R. comb with seven straight teeth surmounted by S. Bar of comb, with bifurcated ends and pellet between, intersects legend.

Rev. + .ROMA.CAPVD.MVND‹ cross pattée with two large pellets. Capitoline hoard type C1

4. Obv. + SEN AT‹P. Q.R. comb with seven straight teeth surmounted by S. Bar of comb, with bifurcated ends and pellet between, intersects legend.

Rev. +.ROMA.CAPVD.M‹ cross pattée, degenerate omega and star in quarters.Capitoline hoard type C2

5. Obv. +SEN AT‹P. Q.R. comb with seven straight teeth surmounted by S. Bar of comb, with bifurcated ends and pellet between, intersects legend.

Rev. +.ROMA.CAPVD.M. plain cross pattée.Capitoline hoard type C3

6. Obv. +SENAT[VS] small comb with five curved and wider spaced teeth. Bar of comb does not intersect circle.

Rev. +ROMACAPVDM cross pattée with or without symbols.Capitoline hoard type D.

15 Capobianchi 1895, p. 444; Finetti 2000, p. 188; Stahl 2008, pp. 161 and 164, fig. 3; Sissia and Giarante 2013b, p. 21.

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Provisini issued in the name of Cola di Rienzo (1347)7. Obv. +ALMVS.TRIBVNAT cross pattée with different symbols, with no symbols or

flanked by the letters V R B S in a beaded border. Rev. +ROMA.CAPVT.MV comb with five curved and distanced teeth surmounted

by different symbols.

Fig. 5. Provisino of Cola di Rienzo

Provisini issued in the name of Boniface IX (1389–1404)8. Obv. +.BONIFATIVS.PP.NO. cross pattée with star in a beaded border. Rev. +.IN.ROMA.S.P.Q.R. comb with five curved and distanced teeth, surmounted by

S between different symbols in a beaded border.

Only one example of variety 1 is present in the hoard. It is designated B1. There are no examples of the second variety. It is the third main variety (nos 3–5 designated type C nos 1–3 respectively) which dominate the hoard. Variety 6 (designated type D) is represented by three examples all slightly different. The later coins of Cola de Rienzo and Boniface IX Varieties 7 and 8 are not present in the hoard but they are important for comparative purposes because they can be precisely dated. The provisini of Boniface were probably struck early in his pontificate.

This arrangement is based on metallurgical analysis carried out by Finetti in the Istituto di Scienza della Terra of Perugia University in 2000. His aim was to construct a relative chronology for all the Roman provisini minted after 1280 by checking the intrinsic value of surviving examples. A specimen of type 1 was 2 oz 9 dwt fine and Finetti supposed that these provisini belonged to the type described by Pegolotti as provigiani minted in 1280, with an intrinsic value of 2 oz and 8 dwt.16 He was unable to analyse a specimen of type 2 but assumed it was Pegolotti’s new provigiani issued in 1285 and said by him to be 2 oz 1 dwt fine.

His analysis also allowed Finetti to recognize three different variants of types 3 to 5 (our type C) on the grounds of combinations of symbols around the reverse cross. Philip Grierson dated Pegolotti’s provisini references to ‘not long after 1285’ and, since Pegolotti does mention type C, it would appear that it had not yet been minted.17 The same types were also found in excavations at the fortified settlement of Caprignano (Casperia, prov. Rieti) in strata immediately antedating the destruction of the place in 1307.18 The composition of the excavation material was therefore similar to that of Capitoline hoard. Finetti, who was responsible for studying the

16 Evans 1936, p. 292. 17 Grierson 1957, p. 486.18 The excavations were carried out conducted by the École Française de Rome, Noye 1984, pp. 958–72.

The coins were found between 1980 and 1984. The finds are mentioned by Finetti 2000, pp. 188–9.


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numismatic material from Caprignano, considered this archaeological context confirmed that these types dated from around 1300. They presumably circulated in and around Rome in the last decade of the thirteenth and the first decade of the fourteenth century.

The metrological evidence indicates that the three types were struck in large quantities over a relatively short period of time. The most likely occasion is the First Jubilee of 1300 which saw a massive building programme. This, together with the presence of numerous pilgrims and others in the city, would certainly have created a need for petty cash.19

The metrology of the coins in the Capitoline hoard

Table 1 shows the data collected by Finetti for Capitoline Types B and C compared with the data reported by Pegolotti in La Pratica della Mercatura. Tables 2 a, b, c show the weight distribution of the coins of type C in the Capitoline hoard.

Type Reverse design Intrinsic value (Finetti)

Intrinsic value (Pegolotti)

Issue date

Type BVariant 1

Cross 2 oz and 9 dwt(200.8 thousandths)

2 oz and 8 dwt c.1280

Type BVariant 2

Cross with globes Not analysed 2 oz 1 dwt c.1285

Type CVariant 1

Cross with globes 1 oz and 18 dwt(130.2 thousandths)

Not mentioned c.1300

Type CVariant 2

Cross with omega and star

1 oz and 21.5 dwt(141.95 thousandths)


Type CVariant 3

Cross 2 oz and 2.5 dwt(182.35 thousandths)


Table 1. Comparison of data from non-destructive analysis by Finetti with La Pratica della Mercatura

The identification of the intrinsic value of the provisini of Type C with a cross flanked by globes (1 oz and 18 dwt) allowed Finetti to rule out their identification with the more valuable coins described by Pegolotti as: ‘provigiani nuovi di Roma fatti nel 1285 che hanno 2 punti nella croce (once 2, denari 1)’. According to Finetti, these provigiani should be identified with the provisini of Type B with a cross flanked by two globes, because their weight and diameter are greater than those of Type C.20

19 For a general overview of the building work which took place in Rome in this period see Pace 2002, pp. 501–20. Hubert 2006, pp. 159–86, states that the years around 1300 was the period of maximum expansion of the city. The area of Rome expanded to some 350–400 hectares (Hubert, p. 173), and the city was provided with 300 parish churches and had to face the high costs involved in the restoration of abandoned neighbourhoods and public buildings (Hubert, pp. 178–81).

20 The provisini of type B found in the Crypta Balbi excavations are also to be identified with the provigiani mentioned by Pegolotti and can thus be dated to c.1285. It would seem that the provisini found in the Crypta Balbi and dated to c.1285 by Rovelli are really type C and should be dated to c.1300. Rovelli 1990, pp. 169–94.

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Analysis of the weights of the three variants of type C in the Capitoline hoard shows that all three were issued to the same standard and presumably struck over a relatively short period of time.21

Table 2a. Provisini with large pellets in first and fourth quarters of reverse cross Capitoline Hoard Type C1.

Table 2b. Provisini with omega in second and star in third quarter of reverse cross.

21 Six coins with illegible reverses and the fragmentary provisini of each variant have not been considered in the analysis of weights.


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Table 2c. Provisini without symbols in reverse cross. Capitoline Hoard Type C3

The evolution of the legends in Type C helps the reconstruction of the relative chronology of the three variants. The legend of Type C1 is very similar to that of Type B. Types C1 and C2 have a shorter legend similar to variety 6, designated type D in the hoard.

The value of the provisini compared to other currencies

Finetti’s data suggest that during the thirteenth century denari provisini maintained relatively high intrinsic values compared to the baser issues which circulated to the north of Rome. From the 1260s new petty coins began to be minted in Cortona, Orvieto, Perugia and Viterbo. These coins were collectively called ‘denari cornetini’ since they circulated in nearby Corneto (Civitavecchia). Confusingly they are sometimes referred to as ‘cortonesi’ or ‘den. cort.’ which suggests they are they are pennies of Cortona. Under the influence of the denari cornetini the proportion of silver lessened significantly in other minor coins produced north of Rome. This phenomenon can also be observed for the denari circulating in southern Italy at this time. One would expect that the denari provisini minted in the second part of the thirteenth century might have been debased, as well.

The exchange rates for gold florins against petty coins (in particular denaro provisino and denaro cortonese) collected in the thirteenth and fourteenth century tithe accounts for Latium (Lazio) show that from the 1270s until the middle of the fourteenth century the denaro provisino always had a higher value than the denaro cortonese (Table 3).

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Tithe for years Exchange rates for florin1274–80 19s 6d provisini23

20s 4d provisini24

48s 6d cortonesi25

1295–8 29s 6d provisini26

48s 9d cortonesi50s 9d cortonesi27

1302–3 34s provisini28

60s cortonesi (£3) 29

1343–6 £2 3s provisini30

£4 3s cortonesi31

Table 3. Exchange rates in the Rationes Decimarum Italiae: Latium222324252627282930

The coin list of the arithmetic treatise dated to about 1280, now in Columbia University (New York), states that Roman provisini are better than the new cortonesi: ‘provisini di Roma melglio che cortonesi nuovi’.31

One would have expected that the fine denari provisini minted in the second part of the thirteenth century would have been driven out of circulation by the lower quality denari cornetini. This seems to happen only in the fourteenth century when another less fine and smaller type of provisino was minted.

22 Batelli, 1946, p. 399, no. 3734: (…) et in quibus fuerunt appretiati XIII flor. auri pro XIX sol. et dimidio provis. per unum.

23 Batelli, 1946, p. 399, no. 3735: (…) in quibus denariis fuit I flor. auri appretiatus XX sol. et IIII provis.

24 Batelli, 1946, p. 319, no. 3343: (…) receperunt: a presbitero Francisco de Canino III tur. gross. A venerabili patre d. Ermano episcopo Castrensi XXX lib. den. cort., in florenis aureis ad XLVIII sol. et VI den. corton. unus.

25 Batelli, 1946, p. 408, Summa predictarum quantitatum capit et est lib. XLV sol. II den. X provis., inter quos fuerunt dati et assignati floreni de auro V, quorum quilibet valet sol. XXVIIII et den. VI provis. Item tornensium sol. V, quorum quilibet valet XXXIIII den. provis.

26 Batelli, 1946, p. 343: (…) Summa summarum prime et secunde page secundi anni capit et est CLXXXXIIII lib. sol. XVII den. II cort.; in qua suma prime page fuerunt flor. auri XXIII, quorum quilibet valebat tunc sol. XLVIII den. VIIII cort.; in secunda vero paga fuerunt flor. auri XIIII, quorum quilibet valebat tunc sol. L et den. VIIII cort.

27 Batelli, 1946, p. 428, Summa decime civitatis et diocesis Civitatis Castellane secundi termini provis. lib. C, computato quolibet floreno auri provis. sol. XXXIIII, samperino XII den., turnensi grosso XXXIIII den., romanino grosso XXXII den., bolognino grosso X den., prout in locis supradictis communiter expendebantur.

28 Batelli, 1946, p. 427–8, Summa secundi termini eiusdem civitatis et diocesis eidem procuratori assignati capit cur. lib. LXI sol. XIII den. III, computato quolibet floreno auri cur. lib. III, et turnensi grosso sol. V, romanino grosso sol. IIII den. VIIII, vulterano sol. II, ravignano et samperino quolibet XXI den., guelfo XXXV den., bolognino XVIII den., anconitano III sol., prout in locis supradictis communiter expendebantur.

29 Batelli, 1946, p. 35, no. 23: (…) Valent XV sol. III den. cort., quos dixit se recepisse ad rationem II lib., III sol. provis. pro quolibet floreno.

30 Batelli, 1946, p. 325, no. 3404: (…) ad rationem IIII lib., III sol. cort. pro quolibet floreno.31 Travaini 2003, p. 93. Other references to provisini in this and other contemporary coin lists and

given in the Appendix.


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Provisini from the fourteenth century

These are types 6, 7 and 8 catalogued above Among the available examples of the latter type, the only ones with certain chronology are the provisini minted by Cola di Rienzo in 1347 and the provisini struck in the name of Boniface IX Tomacelli (1389–1404), probably on the occasion of his appointment in 1389.

At some point a simplified comb with only five teeth was introduced. The earliest dated ones are those struck in the name of Cola di Rienzo (1347). He may have been the first to strike the type though it could have been introduced earlier. A hoard of 392 medieval coins, found at Fontana Antica (Tarquinia) near the church of S. Maria in Castello in 1965, provides some additional information.32 Finetti dated it to the last quarter of the fourteenth century, on account of the presence of a silver duplo of Hugues IV Adhemar of Montèlimar (1360–72). The hoard contained 11 denari provisini, one of type C and ten with the comb with five curved and distanced teeth. This suggests that by the last quarter of the fourteenth century Type C had been more or less supplanted by the more debased provisini with the five tooth comb. On the other hand the type was absent from the hoard of S. Nicola Greco, in the church of S. Francesco at Guardiagrele (Prov. Chieti) possibly connected with the public exhibition of the saint’s relics in1343. The hoard consisted of 35 including four provisini of types B and C.33

The Capitoline hoard contains three Senatorial denari provisini with five-toothed comb. As this is the most recent production of the hoard, it has been defined as ‘Type D’.

Conclusion

The presence of denari provisini of Type D in the hoard dates its deposition to the late fourteenth century. The absence of Cola’s coins may suggest that the hoard dates from before 1347 but that assumes that Cola did not introduce the five-teeth comb type. Nevertheless, he governed the city for just six months and the coins in his name are comparatively scarce so their absence in the hoard is not proof that it could not have been deposited after 1347.

The three examples of Type D in the Capitoline hoard indicates that the hoard was formed very soon after the introduction of the type. The bulk of it could have been put together much earlier. One cannot be more specific, given the absence of any archaeological context.

The historical background gives ample reason for a hoard to be concealed and then lost. During the 1350s the clash between powerful Colonna and Orsini families had passed its most violent stage but the conflict still persisted, worsening the state of desolation which the city had experienced for years. To add to the instability it was during this decade that three short lived, popular governments, that of Giovanni Cerroni (between December 1351 and September 1352), Francesco Baroncelli (between September 1353 and March 1354) and Cola di Rienzo, who returned to power between August and October 1354, interrupted the centuries-old baronial hegemony.This only came to an end in 1358 when the anti-oligarchic association

32 Finetti 1987, pp. 81–117.33 Andreani, D’Andrea, Taraborrelli 2011, pp. 229–53.

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Felice Società dei Balestrieri e dei Pavesati re-established a degree of economic and political stability.34

CATALOGUE OF THE HOARD

The hoard consists of 437 coins: 435 Roman Senate denari provisini and two billon pennies of Ancona (denari anconetani) (fig. 5).35

Figs 6 and 6b. The denari anconetani Med 19224 and Med 19225

The 435 denari provisini are characterized by different typological, epigraphic, palaeographic and metrological features, thanks to which it has been possible to identify the following types:

Type A (1 example)36

Obv. SENATVS.P.Q.R. cross pattée in peletted border with pellet, star, degenerate omega, degenerate alfa.

Rev. ROMACAPVTMV comb with twelve straight teeth surmounted by S between crescents in a cabled border.

1. 0.47 g.

Fig. 7. The denaro provisino Med 18747 Type A

34 For a historical overview on this period in Rome see Maire Vigueur 2010; Musto 2003; Vauchez 2001.

35 The denari anconetani (fig. 1) started to circulate in the late twelfth century (the oldest reference dates to 1170), probably as a unit of account of the denaro lucchese (Day 2008, p. 118). The early anconetani show an obverse with the legend +.SCS.QVI.RI.A. and the letters C V S around a central point, and a reverse with the legend +DE ANCONA and a cross. The later anconetani, dated between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, show an obverse with a different legend: +.PP.S.QVI.RI.A. The replacement of the abbreviation SCS with the letters PPS, whose meaning is still topic of debate, represents the only significant change undergone by this issue until the mid-fourteenth century. The two anconetani of the hoard (Med 19224; Med 19225) show the obverse legend +.PP.S.QVI.RI.A. For an overview on the issue: Metcalf 1974, pp. 378–80. Day 2008, pp. 113–40.

36 Inventory number: Med 18747.


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Type B (1 example)37

Obv. + SENATV‹POPVLV‹Q.R. comb with seven straight teeth surmounted by S between star and crescent in a cabled border.

Rev. +.ROMA.CAPVD.MVND‹ cross pattée without symbols in a cabled border.

2. 0.67 g.

Fig. 8. The denaro provisino Med 18750 Type B

Type C – Variant 1 (122 examples)38

Obv. + SEN – AT‹POPVL‹ – Q.R. comb with seven straight teeth surmounted by S between star and crescent. Bar of comb, with bifurcated ends and pellet between, intersects legend.

Rev. + .ROMA.CAPVD.MVND‹ cross pattée with two large pellets, in a pelleted border.

3–124. 0.41, 0.46, 0.47. 0.49, 0. 52 (2 coins), 0.53 (2 coins), 0.57 (3 coins), 0.58 (8 coins), 0.59 (4 coins), 0.60 (6 coins), 0.61 (10 coins), 0.62 (16 coins), 0.63 (24 coins), 0.64 (13 coins), 0.65 (15 coins), 0.66 (9 coins), 0.67 (3 coins), (2 coins), 0.69 g.

Fig. 9. The denaro provisino Med 19191 Type C – Var. 1


Obv. + SEN – AT‹P. – Q.R. comb with seven straight teeth surmounted by S between star and crescent. Bar of comb, with bifurcated ends and pellet between, intersects legend.

Rev. +.ROMA.CAPVD.M. cross pattée, with degenerate omega and star in quarters, in a cabled border.

125–219. 0.42, 0.49, 0.53, 0.54 (6 coins), 0.55, 0.56 (3 coins), 0.57 (3 coins), 0.58 (5 coins), 0.59 (4 coins), 0.60 (6 coins), 0.61 (17 coins), 0.62 (10 coins), 0.63 (17 coins), 0.64 (7 coins), 0.65 (4 coins), 0.66 (3 coins), 0.67 (3 coins), 0.68 (2 coins), 0.69 g.

37 Inventory number: Med 18750 (fig. 7).38 Inventory numbers: Med 18759; Med 18797; Med 18832; Med 18891; Med 18929; Med 18930;

Med 19101; Med 19108 – Med 19220; Med 19223; Med 19231.39 Inventory numbers: Med 19008 – Med 19100; Med 19221; Med 19222.

MARIELE VALCI240

Fig. 10. The denaro provisino Med 19080 Type C – Var. 2


Obv. + SEN – AT‹P. – Q.R. comb with seven straight teeth surmounted by S between star and crescent. Bar of comb, with bifurcated ends and pellet between, intersects legend.

Rev. +.ROMA.CAPVD.M. plain cross pattée, in a cabled border.

220–427. 0.31, 0.34, 0.36, 0.41, 0.47 (3 coins), 0.48, 0.50 (2 coins), 0.51 (2 coins), 0.52, 0.53, 0.54 (2 coins), 0.55 (3 coins), 0.56 (6 coins), 0.57 (3 coins), 0.58 (8 coins), 0.59 (14 coins), 0.60 (15 coins), 0.61 (26 coins), 0.62 (26 coins), 0.63 (34 coins), 0.64 (20 coins), 0.65 (18 coins), 0.66 (12 coins), 0.67 (5 coins), 0.68, 0.72 g.

Fig. 11. The denaro provisino Med 18905 Type C - Var 3

Table 4. Weights of the Type C coins in the hoard

40 Inventory numbers: Med 18751 – Med 18758; Med18760 – Med18796; Med 18798 – Med 18831; Med 18833 – Med 18890; Med 18892 – Med 18928; Med 18931 – Med 18964.


241

428–432. Five denari provisini of Type C in poor condition. Their reverses are illegible.41

Type D (3 examples)42

Obv. +[...]NAT[...], bar of comb with five curved and distanced teeth, with bifurcated ends and pellet between, in a beaded border.

Rev. [...]OMA[...]D.[...], cross pattée with two pellets in a beaded border.

433. 0.41 g.

Obv. [...]SEN[...] bar of comb with five curved and distanced teeth, with bifurcated ends and pellet between, in a beaded border.

Rev. [...]A.CAPVD.M:, cross pattée with two spindles in a beaded border.

434. 0.47 g.

Obv. [...]SENAT.[...], bar of comb with five curved and distanced teeth, bifurcated ends and pellet between, in a beaded border.

Rev. +[...]CAPVS.[...], cross pattée with star in a beaded border.

435. 0.50 g.

Fig. 12. Med 18746, Med 18748, Med 18749

APPENDIX

Refences to provisini in thirteenth and fourteenth century coin lists.

The following data have been taken from the lists reproduced by Travaini 2003. Pegolotti, ‘Columbia’, Datini and Acciaiuoli are merchants’ handbooks, while the figures in Lippo di Fede are from a business ledger.

All the lists record the intrinsic value of the coins with which their authors were familiar. They cannot be considered completely reliable documentary sources but they do provide useful insights into contemporary knowledge of the silver fineness

41 Inventory numbers: Med 19227 – Med 19230, Med 1923.42 Inventory numbers: Med 18746, Med 18748, Med 18749 (fig. 11).

MARIELE VALCI242

of the coins in question. They show that, as far as the provisini were concerned, the different combinations of symbols around the reverse cross could be an important factor in distinguishing the different issues.

Columbia (c.1280)43 Privisini di Roma mezo chongno e melglio che cortonesi nuovi fiorini 27 la lb.Privisini di Roma nuovi e chiarintini e melglio che chortonesci nuovi fiorini 25 la lb.Previsini di Roma vecchi so a oncia 3 e ¾ d’onciaPrevisini di Roma mezo chongno so a onc. 3 e ¼Previsini nuovi sonno a onc. 3 meno 3 den. di chantora

Pegolotti (c.1290)44

Provisini di santo fatti dopo il re Carlo, a onc. 2 den. 20Provigiani di Roma, onc. 3 den. 15 1/2Provigiani nuovi di Roma fatti nel 1270 a onc. 3 den. 9 1/2Provigiani fatti nel tempo del re Carlo a onc. 3 den. 4Provigiani fatti in Roma nel 1280, a onc. 2 den. 8Provigiani nuovi di Roma fatti nel 1285, che ànno 2 punti nella +, onc. 2 den. 1

Datiniana (c.1300)45

Provisini di Sanato onc. 2 den. 20 di fine

Acciaiuoli (c.1306)46

Provenigini de Senato di Roma, fatti dopo re Karlo onc. II d. XXProvenigini di Roma onc. III d. XV 1/2Provenigini di Roma nuovi fatti nel 70 onc. III d. VIIII 1/2Provenigini di Roma fatti nel tempo de re Carlo, onc. III d. IIIIProvenigini di Roma fatti nel LXXX onc. II d. VIIIProvenigini di Roma nuovi fatti nel 85, ch’ànno due punti ne la croce onc. II d. I

Lippo di Fede (c.1314)47

Provenigini vecchi del Sanato di Roma 3 onc. ½Provenigini piccioli vecchi di Roma 2 onc. 20 den.Provenigini nuovi del Sanato di Roma 2 onc. 20 den.Provenigini nuovi del Sanato di Roma 2 onc. 20 den.Provenigini nuovi di Roma 3 onc. 18 den.Provenigini piccioli 2 onc. mescholatamente come chorono.

43 Unpublished manuscript in Columbia University Library in New York; Travaini 2003, pp. 93–4, 100.44 Evans 1934; Travaini 2003, pp. 129–30.45 Ciano 1964; Travaini 2003, p. 135.46 Melis 1972 quoting from an unpublished thesis by L. Fantacci, La Pratica della Mercatura della

raccolta Tordi di Firenze, fine sec. XIV (Florence, 1970); Travaini 2003, p. 142. 47 Unpublished manuscript in Archivio di Stato, Florence; Travaini 2003, pp. 153–4.


243

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A Hoard of Roman Denari Provisini Preserved in the Capitoline Museum, Rome

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