Resources
Ancient numismatics
Welcome to the section dedicated to ancient numismatics books of Biblionumis.it, the reference point for enthusiasts and collectors of coins and medals. On the site you will find a wide selection of specialized texts, edited by expert numismatists, that explore the fascinating history of coins from antiquity to the present day. Our books will guide you on a journey through the centuries, telling you the story of ancient civilizations through the evolution of their coins. Whether they are Greek, Roman, Byzantine, modern or contemporary coins, each book is a precious source of knowledge to delve into the historical, artistic and economic details that only numismatics can reveal. We offer works written by internationally renowned numismatists and historians, guaranteeing accurate and detailed content. From coin catalogs with illustrations and detailed descriptions to manuals, each text is designed to satisfy both the expert collector and the novice. You will also find practical guides that will help you evaluate, classify and best preserve your ancient coins. Numismatics is not only a study of the past, but also a current passion that grows every day. Investing in the right books means enriching your knowledge and improving the quality of your collection. Each volume here has been carefully selected to offer you the maximum amount of information and expertise. Our books are essential tools for anyone who wants to delve deeper into ancient numismatics. Thanks to detailed descriptions, high-quality images and contributions from experts, these texts will allow you to navigate the world of ancient coins with confidence. Discover our collection and find the perfect book for you. Whether you are an avid collector or a researcher, our texts will provide you with all the knowledge you need to take your passion for numismatics to the next level. Browse our categories now and enrich your library with fundamental works of ancient numismatics on Biblionumis.it!
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The bronze coinage of Poseidonia-Paestum,...
€65.00The bronze coinage of Poseidonia-Paestum, Proceedings of the Third Conference of the International Center for Numismatic Studies, Naples, 19-23 April 1971, Italian Institute of Numismatics, Rome 1973, pp. XXI, 171, 15 plates, including 1 fold-out, 24 cm, br. ed.
Supplement to volume 18-19 of the Annals.
Contents: List of participants; Conference schedule; In memory of Erich Boehringer; Inaugural session; Speeches by F. Acton di Leporano, CHV Sutherland; Pugliese Carratelli G., Problems in the history of Paestum; Zancani Montuoro P., Some documents of art and craftsmanship; Speech by L. Breglia; Grunauer von Hoerschelmann S., The Bronzepraegung von Poseidonia; Speeches by W. Johannowsky, RR Holloway, CM Kraay; Crawford M., Paestum and Rome - The Form and Function of a subsidiary Coinage; Speeches by E. Lepore, M. Mello, CM Franciosi, L. Breglia, M. Crawford; Stazio A., Poseidonia-Paestum: Problems of coin circulation; Papers by S. Grunauer von Hoerschelmann, M. Crawford, C.M. Kraay, E. Pozzi Paolini, C.M. Kraay; Holloway, R.R., Poseidonia-Paestum: The Relationship Between Silver and Bronze Coinage; Papers by C.M. Kraay, E. Lepore, P. Zancani Montuoro, L. Breglia, E. Lepore, M. Crawford, R.R. Holloway; Papers and Discussion; Papers by F. Sallusto, L. Breglia, M. Mello, P. Zancani Montuoro, N. Parise, C.M. Kraay, L. Breglia, P. Zancani Montuoro, M. Crawford, L. Breglia, P. Zancani Montuoro, E. Lepore; Closing Session; Speech by C.H.V. Sutherland; Corrigendum (E. Manni); Index of Contributors; List of Abbreviations.
In excellent condition. Rare.
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Memories of a passion, vol. IV, Ancient Italy,...
€300.00Memories of a passion, vol. IV, Ancient Italy, Anders Collection, sn, Lugano 2022, pp. 424 on beautiful glossy paper, richly illustrated in colour, 31 cm, card. and. with titles on the spine, front cover and dust jacket.
Large volume offering weight and metrological information, numerous bibliographical references and enlargements of each coin presented.
In perfect condition. Publication made in a small number of copies, very rare.
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Visconti, Unpublished Ancient Medals, 1810, all...
€240.00Alessandro Visconti, Unpublished Ancient Medals, from the Printing House of Paolo Salviucci and Son, Rome, no. 1, 1810, 56 pp. in total (numbered up to p. 23 with facing text in French with the same numbering), 2 splendid copperplates, 29 cm, paperback, colored edition with black titles within a double frame.
Additionally: Alessandro Visconti, Unpublished Ancient Medals, from the Printing House of Paolo Salviucci and Son, Rome, no. 2, 1810, 32 pp. in total (numbered from p. 23 to p. 39 with the corresponding French text), 1 splendid copperplate, 29 cm, paperback, colored edition with black titles within a double frame.
The numismatist Alessandro Visconti (1757-1835), active in the Roman antiquarian community, began publishing this numismatic periodical in 1810. It was among the first published in Italy, written in both Italian and French, as French was the international language of scholarly communication in the early 19th century. The editorial decision was likely also motivated by the hope of securing a significant number of requests in France, which would ensure the periodical's stable financial independence. However, after the second issue, publication was suspended. For further information, see Giuseppe Ruotolo's study, "Medaglie antiche inedite periodico edited by Alessandro Visconti," published in "Progresso Numismatico," March 2019.
The two issues constitute all the publications of this very rare periodical.
Copy in superb condition, untouched and with very fresh paper.
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Grierson, Mays, Catalog of late Roman Coins in...
€70.00Philip Grierson, Melinda Mays, Catalogue of late Roman Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, From Arcadius and Honorius to the accession of Anastasius, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington DC 1992, pp. XVI, 499, richly illustrated, 37 plates, 29 cm, full cloth binding with gilt titles on the spine, front cover, and dust jacket.
A fundamental catalogue of the coinage of the late Roman Empire and the early Byzantine period, spanning the period from Arcadius and Honorius to the accession of Anastasius. This volume thoroughly examines the monetary history of the period, cataloging with great precision the collection's specimens, all illustrated and correlated with materials held in other important collections. This is the first fully illustrated catalogue published of a large collection of late Roman and early Byzantine imperial coins. While following the scholarly approach of the celebrated Byzantine volumes in the Dumbarton Oaks series, it stands out for its choice to reproduce the entire corpus of specimens rather than a representative selection.
Traces of use on the dust jacket, otherwise in very good condition.
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Akarca, Les monnaies grecques de Mylasa
€45.00Askidil Akarca, Les monnaies grecques de Mylasa, Librairie Adrien-Maisonneuve, Paris 1959, pp. 106, 21 plates. one of which folded, 26 cm, br. and.
Bibliothèque archéologique et historique series of the Institut Francais d'archéologie d'Istanbul, 1.
A monographic study on the Greek coinage of Mylasa, in Caria, an ancient polis of considerable importance in the region. The work examines the city's mintings, particularly those from the Hellenistic and Greco-Imperial periods, and is accompanied by an extensive photographic collection.
Untouched and in excellent condition. Very rare.
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Lenormant, Essai sur l'organisation politique et...
€34.00François Lenormant, Essai sur l'organisation politique et économique de la monnaie dans l'antiquité, Rollin et Feuardent, Paris 1863, pp. 192, 23 cm, br. and.
Original edition of this work by the renowned French numismatist, historian, and archaeologist François Lenormant (1837-1883), in which the coinage of the ancient world is considered not only from a strictly numismatic perspective, but also in its institutional, political, and economic dimensions. The author analyzes the role of monetary issues within state structures and in the economic relations of ancient civilizations, offering a broad reflection on the function of money in ancient societies. This work belongs to the early phase of Lenormant's scholarly activity and prefigures the interests he would develop more comprehensively in later years in the masterful synthesis "Money in Antiquity."
Untouched and in excellent condition.
Uncommon publication.
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Russo, The coins of the Battista collection in...
€48.00Carla Russo, The Coins of the Battista Collection in the Civic Museum of Foggia, Fondazione Banca del Monte Domenico Siniscalco Ceci, Foggia 2008, pp. 174, richly illustrated, 24 cm, hardback ed.
Series: Banca del Monte Foundation Domenico Siniscalco Ceci, 1.
In excellent condition. Rare.
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Punic numismatic studies
€135.00Studies in Punic Numismatics, National Research Council, Rome 1983, pp. 81, 42 plates, 28 cm, hardback edition with dust jacket.
Supplement to the Journal of Phoenician Studies, no. XI (1983).
From the Index: E. Acquaro, Foreword; J. Elayi, The Sphinx and Faucon Coins of Byblos; G.K. Jenkins, The Mqabba (Malta) Hoard of Punic Bronze Coins; A. Tusa Cutroni, Recent Solutions and New Problems in the Punic Coinage of Sicily; F. Guido, Punic Coins in a Private Collection in Sassari; L. Villaronga, Ten Years of Novelties in Spanish-Carthaginian Numiny 1973–1983; P. Serafin Petrillo, Gold and Silver in Some Barcid Coinage.
Untouched and in excellent condition.
Extremely rare.
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Punic coins from the Pispisa collection. Series...
€150.00Piero Bartoloni, Carla Perra, Punic coins from the Pispisa collection. Series II (264-241 BC), National Research Council, Rome 1998, pp. 43, 73 plates, 28 cm, softcover edition with dust jacket.
Supplement to the Journal of Phoenician Studies, no. XXVI (1998).
The volume offers the complete edition of a treasure trove of Punic coins found by chance in 1961 in the territory of Torralba in Sardinia. The coins, originally about 4000 but then largely dispersed due to various vicissitudes, were acquired by Vittorio Pispisa during his activity as Honorary Inspector and were finally donated by him to the Archaeological Museum of Carbonia. Those published here all belong to series II (O/ Head of Kore; R/ Standing Horse), attested in numerous variants, nine of which are unpublished. For this series, the find of Torralba is undoubtedly the numerically most important in Sardinia. The work therefore represents a significant contribution to numismatic and archaeological studies, in particular on the Punic coinage on the island in the 3rd century BC.
Small ownership signature on the title page.
In perfect condition. Extremely rare.
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Attianese, Greek Calabria, 3 vols.
€480.00Pasquale Attianese, Greek Calabria, 3 volumes, De Luca Editore, Santa Severina 1974-1980, 1388 pp. in total, richly illustrated, 25 cm, hardback binding with gold titles and decorations on the spine and front cover.
Volume I: Brettion, Kaulonia, Cosentia, Kroton, Medma, Noyceria, Pandosia, Petelia, Skyllation, Temsa, Terina, 1974, pp. 400.
Volume II: Aminea, Hipponion, Valentia, Laos, Lokron, Kasarium, Mystia and Hyporon, Ser... or Mer..., Peripolium, Sybaris, Siris, Thurium, 1977, pp. 440.
Volume III: Thurium (Part II), Copia, Rhegium, Updated with additional unpublished coins, coin pondometry, and archaeo-numismatic studies of Calabrian mints, charts of mint locations and discovery areas, 1980, pp. 548 with maps and a large folded plate. Enclosed is a publisher's card supplementing the errata corrige.
The work stands out for its organic structure and the breadth of its documentation, making it one of the most comprehensive Italian contributions to Magna Graecia issues from the Calabrian region. The typological analysis is accompanied by a historical and archaeological reading of the series, with particular attention to weight and the distribution of finds, elements that enhance its scholarly soundness. Because of this structure, the corpus is regularly cited in specialized bibliography and auction descriptions dedicated to ancient numismatics, where it serves as a reference for studies on the coinage of far southern Italy.
Small stamp of an extinct library on two leaves of the first volume.
In excellent condition. Very rare work.
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Ricci, The Cult of Diana in Royal and Republican...
€68.00Carlo Ricci, The cult of Diana in royal and republican Rome and its impact on silver coinage of the goddess from the beginning of the denarius to 31 BC, sn, sl 1991, pp. 69 including 3 plates of coins, 30 cm, bound in cloth ribbon.
Index: The reason for studying coin types with Diana; The piety of the moneyer as a leitmotif in republican silver coins; Diana's splendor and political decadence; Religious syncretism as another reason for decadence; The great leaders of the 1st century and Diana; The forty-four coins concerning the goddess; Group A: the coins of the "luminous" goddess; Group B and Group C; The coins dedicated to Artemis Agrotera (Diana the Huntress); The hybrids between Group A and Group B; Group D: coins that recall the original opposition between Jupiter and Diana; Group E: the crescent moon symbol of the night; Group F: coins without explanation; Group G: coins with particular subjects or reproducing famous statues.
Scientific publication issued in photocopy format, likely produced by the author in a limited number of copies.
Author's signature on the first page.
In perfect condition. Extremely rare.
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Florez, Medallas de las Colonias Comunis y...
€780.00Enrique Flórez, Medallas de las colonias municipios y pueblos antiguos de Espana, en la Oficina de Antonio Marin, Madrid 1757, pp. XVI, 408 with a black and red title page, finely engraved headpieces, tailpieces, and initials, richly illustrated, 23 copperplates of refined execution, 1 large folding map, 25 cm, finely bound in half morocco with beautiful natural grain, gold fillets and titles on a burgundy label on the spine, edges decorated with polychrome marbling with hand-finished details.
Bound with: Henrique Florez, Medallas de las colonias municipios y pueblos antiguos de Espana, Parte Segunda, en la Oficina de Antonio Marin, Madrid 1758, pp. II, 409-681, richly illustrated, 24-58 finely engraved copperplate plates.
Bound with: M. Mahudel, Dissertation historique sur les monnoyes antiques d'Espagne, chez Le Mercier Lottin Josse le Fils Et Briasson, Paris 1725, pp. II, 59, richly illustrated, 16 finely engraved copperplates.
The volume includes the first two parts of Florez's work, which consists of three parts overall (the third was printed well after the first two, in 1773), and Mahudel's essay, making it an uncommonly rare collection. Elegant blind stamps on the plates and back cover, some ink stamps on the pages, and an ex libris with an overprinted stamp of elimination from an old library.
A copy with notable bibliographic presence, in excellent condition with fresh paper and wide margins.
Very rare.
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Campana, The coinage of the Italic insurgents...
€300.00Alberto Campana, The Coinage of the Italic Insurgents During the Social War (91-87 BC), Apparuti Edizioni, Soliera 1987, pp. XV, 153, richly illustrated, 12 plates, 32 cm, br. ed.
Edition of 600 copies.
Reference study for the systematic analysis of Italian issues of the period considered.
The text features a handwritten dedication from the author. An accompanying booklet contains photo reproductions of reviews published upon the work's release.
Slight traces of use on the paperback, otherwise in excellent condition.
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Bertino, Coins from Luni from the end of the 3rd...
€120.00Antonio Bertino, Coins from Luni from the end of the 3rd century BC to 1204, NIA, sl 2015, pp. 142, richly illustrated, 30 cm, br. ed.
Variant title: Coins from Luni. Our splendid city.
In perfect condition. Very rare.
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Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, The Royal collection...
€100.00Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, The Royal collection of coins and medals, Danish National Museum, volume VII, Cyprus to India, Sunrise Publications Inc., West Milford 1982, 67 beautiful plates. with facing text, 39 cm, full cloth binding ed. with gold titles on the spine and front plate.
Reprint of the first edition.
Signs of age on the plates, otherwise in excellent condition.
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Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, The Royal collection...
€100.00Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, The Royal collection of coins and medals, Danish National Museum, volume VI, Phrygia to Cilicia, Sunrise Publications Inc., West Milford 1982, 63 beautiful plates. with facing text, 39 cm, full cloth binding ed. with gold titles on the spine and front plate.
Reprint of the first edition.
Signs of age on the plates, otherwise in excellent condition.
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Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, The Royal collection...
€100.00Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, The Royal collection of coins and medals, Danish National Museum, volume IV, Bosporus to Lesbos, Sunrise Publications Inc., West Milford 1982, 50 beautiful plates. with facing text, 39 cm, full cloth binding ed. with gold titles on the spine and front cover.
Reprint of the first edition.
Signs of age on the plates, otherwise in excellent condition.
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Burgos, General catalog of Hispanic money from...
€85.00Fernando Alvarez Burgos, Catalogo general de La moneda hispanica desde sus origines hasta el siglo V, Jesus-Vico, Madrid 1987, pp. 325, richly illustrated, 25 cm, leatherette ed. with gold titles on the spine, front cover, and dust jacket.
The text is considered one of the principal reference tools for orientation in ancient Hispanic coinage, from the first pre-Roman issues to the late Imperial Age. The work is widely used in collectors' and commercial circles for typological recognition, thanks to the systematic presentation of known examples, accompanied by extensive illustrations and precise indications of the value of each specimen.
In excellent condition.
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Carollo, Morello, Mamertini, History and Coinage
€25.00Salvatore Carollo, Antonio Morello, Mamertini, History and Coinage, Mario Rasile Numismatic Circle, Formia 1999, pp. 169, illustrations, 6 plates, 24 cm, hardback ed.
Nummus et historia series, 3.
In perfect condition.
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Vecchi, The coinage of the Rasna, A study in...
€18.00Italo Vecchi, The coinage of the Rasna, A study in Etruscan numismatics, part 2, sn, sl 1990, pp. 25, 7 plates, 24 cm, br. and.
Elegant numismatic ex libris on the inside cover.
In excellent condition. Uncommon publication.
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Belloni, Greek coins from the 6th to the 2nd...
€18.00Gian Guido Belloni, Greek Coins from the 6th to the 2nd Century BC. Exhibition on the Occasion of the 14th Museum Week, Municipality of Milan. Department of Cultural Institutions and Initiatives and Tourism, Milan 1971, pp. 63, 23 plates, 24 cm, br. ed.
At the top of the frontispiece: Civic Archaeological Museum and Numismatic Cabinet.
In perfect condition.
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Catalogue of the numismatic collection of Carlo...
€22.00Catalogue of the numismatic collection of Carlo Piancastelli, Aes Grave, Roman Republican Coin, edited by Emanuela Cocchi Ercolani, Tipo Litografia Forlivese, Forlì 1972, pp. 62, 20 plates, 28 cm, br. ed.
In perfect condition.
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Babelon, Le portrait d'un fonctionnaire romain...
€18.00E. Babelon, Le portrait d'un fonctionnaire romain sur une monnaie de Priène C. Caesonius Macer Rufinianus, Jules Florange, Paris 1923, pp. 9, ill., 1 plate, 27 cm.
In perfect condition. Rare.
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De Saulcy, Lettre to MJ De Witte sur la...
€16.00F. De Saulcy, Lettre a MJ De Witte sur la numismatique judaique, Printed by E. Thunot et C., Paris 1865, pp. 27, 25 cm, br. and. silent coeval.
In perfect condition.