Ricerc@Sapienza

A group of orichalcum Roman coins, from private collections, have been studied for this research. Numismatic examination indicated that they are asses, sestertium and dupondius, minted from Julius Caesar to Nero. Orichalcum is an ancient copper based alloy with a variable percentage of zinc.
The aim of this study was to investigate the process of dezincification from the external layers to the core of the samples. Furthermore, the research was aimed to disclose the real chemical composition of the orichalcum alloy.

A selected number of Roman orichalcum coins, from private collections, have been studied. Numismatic analysis indicates that (Crawford, 1974; Sutherland, 1984) they are asses, sestertius and dupondium, minted by Julius Caesar, Augustus and Claudius. The aim of this study was to disclose the chemical composition of the orichalcum alloy, the nature of the patina and corrosion products; orichalcum is an ancient copper based alloy with a variable percentage of zinc (Craddock, 1978). With this aim a multi-analytical approach was involved, i.e.

The Fatimid coins in the National Museum of Damascus were only partially published so far. This contribution presents one hundred and one pieces from the Syrian museum, of which fifty were previously unpublished and only two of which had been illustrated before. Through this new material, and its detailed catalogue, it is now possible to add new data to Fatimid numismatic history and to document the holdings of an important museum collection.

The Proceedings of the 5th Simone Assemani Symposium on Islamic coins collect the various contributions with the unifying subject proposed for the meeting: Islamic money in the archaeological contexts (Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, Tajikistan, Poland, on the plains of western Russia and in Georgia, Sicily or Spain), problems, methods, documentary value for the economic history from the Umayyad period to the Mamluks. The numismatic documentation should be also the outcome of recent investigations in the archives, i.e. the project “Fontes Inediti Numismaticae Orientalis”, acronym FINO.

There was not just one Giuseppe Caprotti, but two. They both lived at the end of the 19th century, were both from the same region, and were in touch with each other. The two Giuseppe Caprotti are both famous, for collections named after them. Giuseppe Caprotti from Monte Albiate collected coins – Greek and Roman ones, as well as Italians coins and medals – and his coin collection was sold at auction; Giuseppe Caprotti from Besana Brianza, in his turn, is linked to the collection of Yemeni manuscripts now at the Ambrosiana Library and in other important European libraries.

This contribution is focused on the yemenite mints of Ta‘izz and Thab‘a ̄t during the Rasulid dinasty (626-858 AH/AD 1229-1454). Historical chronicles and literary sources are used to document the mint activity of these two closely con- nected cities, and a catalogue of more than one hundred coins struck in these ci- ties is included.