Fundamental Works

Rodolfo Spahr, Sicilian coins from the Aragonese to the Bourbons (1282-1836), edited by the Banco di Sicilia, Palermo 1959, pp. 296, 4 genealogical plates + 39 plates reproducing coins placed in a side pocket, 28 cm, full cloth binding with titles and decorations on the front cover and spine.

Fundamental text for the study of the coins examined.

Light traces of use and ordinary signs of age, otherwise in more than good condition.

Rare.

Angelo Finetti, Numismatics and Technology, Production and Valuation of Coins in Past Societies, NIS, Rome 1987, pp. 141, richly illustrated, 22 cm, hardback ed.

Series: NIS Archaeology Studies, 6.

The function of the coin has always been to pass from hand to hand, carrying with it a series of economic, historical, political, and social messages. But at the heart of it all is always metal, with the shadowy people who mined and worked it, who translated a set of ideas into a form and developed the tools to convert those ideas into that form. When we observe an ancient coin, absorbed as we are in the meanings its creators instilled in it, we too often miss the underlying process; beyond all the precautions taken to preserve its integrity, behind it lies, essentially, a constant search for the subtle balance between content and form, and between cost and value. This work has sought to examine the "physicality" of money in its various aspects (legal, substitute, counterfeit, or imitation), following its developments to provide researchers and collectors, in addition to news and sources, with a wealth of information on the evolution of the tools and techniques used to create it.

Slight traces of use on the edge of the front cover, otherwise in excellent condition.

Rare.

Leslaw Morawiecki, Political propaganda in the coinage of the late Roman Republic (44-43 BC), Zaklad Narodowy im. Ossolinskich, Wroclaw 1983, pp. 108, 8 tables. 24 cm, br. and.

From the Index: The use of political propaganda in the struggle for power in the year 44 BC; Political propaganda and numismatic sources; Issues struck during Caesar's lifetime; Posthumous issues of Caesar; The roles of the army and of propaganda in the formation of political positions in the year 43 BC; The Illyric issue of C. Antonius; Spanish and Sicilian issues of the Pompeian faction; Mark Antony's Gallic issues; M. Antony's and M. Lepidus' issues of denarii; Quinarii issues of M. Antony and M. Lepidus, and provincial coins; Issues of quattuorviri acre,argento,auro,flando feriundo (Senatorial issues); etc.

Insignificant traces of use on the paperback, otherwise in excellent condition. Very rare.

Franco Bartolotti, The Pontifical Medals of the Highest Form from Pius IX to Pius XI, Stabilimento Tipo-Lito Garattoni, Rimini 1971, pp. 128, richly illustrated, 32 cm, full cloth binding with gold titles on the spine and front cover, debossed decorations on the covers.

Reference publication for the study of the medals examined.

Slight signs of wear, otherwise in excellent condition.

Uncommon Edition.

Maria Amalia De Luca, The coins with Arabic legends from the Palermo Municipal Library, introduction by Filippo Guttuso, Part I, sn, Palermo 1998, pp. XXXIX, 399, richly illustrated, 31 cm, elegant cloth binding with gold titles and decorations on the covers and spine.

Aere Perennius Collection. Catalogs, 1.

At the top of the title page: City of Palermo, Department of Culture, Municipal Library.

Part I was the only one published. It is a work of considerable scientific interest, crafted with rigorous descriptive criteria and accompanied by high-quality illustrations.

Two elegant bookplates on the last pages (9x6 cm)

In perfect condition. Extremely rare.

Leodegar Coraggioni, Munzgeschichte der Schweiz, Paul Stroehlin, Luzern 1896, pp. XI, 184, richly illustrated, 50 splendid phototype plates reproducing over 2000 coins, 32 cm, fine binding with gold titles on the spine and front cover, black embossed decorations on the covers, red edges.

An impressive monograph dedicated to Swiss monetary history.

Small ownership stamp imprinted in gold on the front cover, similar ownership stamp on the title page.

Exceptional preservation with very fresh paper.

Extremely rare original edition.

Carl Arnold Willemsen, Uber die goldaugustalen kaiser Friedrichs II. Und ihren zeugniswert fur die sogenannten portrate des kaisers, Tipografia del Sud, Bari 1971, pp. 117-126, 5 tables. Augustal reproductions, 25 cm.

A study of considerable numismatic and iconographic interest, dedicated to the Augustales of Frederick II of Swabia and their documentary value in defining the emperor's official image. This contribution falls within the more specialized strand of twentieth-century studies on Frederick II, rigorously addressing the relationship between the monetary portrait and the medieval figurative tradition.

In perfect condition. Extremely rare.

Tommaso Bertelè, The Winged Emperor in Byzantine Numismatics, P. & P. Santamaria, Rome 1951, pp. 114, ill., 9 plates, 22 cm, br. ed.

Series of numismatic studies, 1.

Expanded version of the paper presented by Bertelè, a distinguished scholar of Byzantine numismatics, at the VIII International Congress of Byzantine Studies (Palermo, 1951), dedicated to the iconography of the winged emperor in medieval Byzantine coinage.

Slight signs of wear, otherwise in excellent condition.

Rare.

Ettore Gabrici, Technique and chronology of Greek coins from the seventh to the fifth century. to. Cr., P. & P. Santamaria, Rome 1951, pp. 80, richly illustrated, 5 plates, 22 cm, br. and.

Series of numismatic studies, 2.

Elegant ex libris on the title page, handwritten title on the spine.

Insignificant traces of use, however overall in excellent condition.

Very rare.

Kenneth Jenkins, The coinage of Gela, 2 vols., Walter De Gruyter & Co., Berlin 1970, 28 cm, full cloth binding with gilt titles on the spine and front cover.

Volume I: pp. XXIV, 312, with geographical maps and aerial photos.

Volume II: pp. 16, 56 splendid plates, in a matching hard case.

Series: Antike Münzen und Geschnittene Steine, 2.

At the top of the title page: Deutsches Archalogisches Institut.

One of the greatest contributions to scientific research on the minting of Greek Sicily, recognized for decades as a cornerstone of the study of Gela's coins.

Ordinary discoloration on the spines, otherwise in excellent condition. Very rare.

Varesi, Utriusque Siciliae, Part Two, The Medals, auction no. 49 (18 April 2007), Pavia 2007, pp. 144, richly illustrated in colour, 30 cm, hardback ed.

Attached is the list of auction prices.

Small ownership stamp on the edges and on some paper.

Fundamental catalogue for the study of the medals of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

In excellent condition. Rare.

Mirco Pezzini, Mint of Lucca, Coins from the 7th to the 18th century, Catalogue of a collection, sn, sl 2005, pp. 288, richly illustrated, 30 cm, hardback ed.

A comprehensive and detailed volume on the coinage of Lucca from the early Middle Ages to the modern age, complete with extensive illustrations.

Slight traces of use on the spine, otherwise in excellent condition.

Very rare.

Lucia Travaini, Hohenstaufen and Angevin Denari of Sicily and Southern Italy: their Mint Attributions, Royal Numismatic Society, London 1993, pp. 93-135, 10 plates, 23 cm, br. and.

The publication presents itself as an organic and in-depth update of the traditional repertoires of Swabian and Angevin denarii of the Kingdom of Sicily up to Charles I of Anjou. At the same time, through a careful examination of the sources, the systematic analysis of the finds and the proposal of new mint attributions, it offers an original contribution to the monetary history of Southern Italy in the 13th century. The text lists the entire production of denarii issued by Henry VI, Frederick II, Conrad, Corradino, Manfred and Charles I of Anjou (1194-1285), divided into 114 main types, all illustrated with drawings or photographs. Of these, at least ten are absent from Rodolfo Spahr's repertoire, having been identified only after the publication of his work (1976). The Kingdom of Sicily was administratively divided into two areas, each served by its own mint: Palermo and, subsequently, Messina for the insular part; Brindisi and, briefly, Manfredonia for the continental part. The denarii produced in the two areas were of different types, despite being theoretically intended for circulation throughout the Kingdom. However, the evidence from the finds suggests a different reality: circulation appears largely confined to the respective minting areas. In this sense, the isolated finds and hoards, carefully documented by Lucia Travaini, prove crucial for a more reliable attribution of the mints, allowing us to revise numerous traditional assignments. The picture that emerges is particularly clear: among the types attested in the finds, only two appear in both areas of the Kingdom, while all the others are limited to just one of them, indicating a substantial lack of mobility of the small coin between the two parts. Furthermore, a significant increase in denarii can be observed in isolated finds starting from around 1238, a fact which fits coherently with the financial policy of Frederick II and his successors, who resorted to progressively debased issues, employed as an effective tool for feeding the state coffers.

In excellent condition.

Giancarlo Alteri, Eleonora Giampiccolo, Coins from the Gela Mint from the Archaeological Museum of the City and from the Vatican Coin Collection, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City 2014, pp. 267, richly illustrated with splendid enlargements, 24 cm, full cloth binding, with titles on the spine, front cover, and dust jacket.

This bilingual (Italian-English) volume presents the coins of the ancient city of Gela, preserved both at the Sicilian city's Archaeological Museum and at the Vatican Apostolic Library's Coin Collection. "2,700 years of history told through the immense monetary heritage of the Gela mint, preserved in the City Museum," summarizes the Mayor of Gela in the preface, aiming to instill in young people the awareness of living in an extraordinary city, where every corner evokes echoes of time, and every trace found represents the sign of profound knowledge. The coin catalog is preceded by the Prologue, "Elegy of the Walls," by Giovanni Chiaramonte, an internationally renowned photographer. After an introduction on the city's history, from its foundation to its destruction in 282 BC, the catalog itself follows, listing the coins minted by the ancient city of Gela during the Greek period and preserved at the city's Archaeological Museum. The volume is completed by an appendix with a brief history of the Vatican Library's coin collection, which precedes the catalogue of the eighteen coins from ancient Gela preserved in the Vatican, including examples not present in the Gela collection.

In perfect condition. Rare.

Raffaele Paolucci, The coins of the doges of Venice, Riccardo Paolucci Editore, Padova 1990, pp. 185, richly illustrated, 31 cm, full cloth binding, with titles on the spine, front cover and dust jacket.

In excellent condition. Rare.

Raffaele Paolucci, The coins of the doges of Venice. Evaluations updated to 1997, Raffaele Paolucci Editore, Padua 1997, pp. 31, richly illustrated, 28 cm, br. and.

Text in Italian and English.

In perfect condition. Extremely rare.

Laura Breglia, Ancient Numismatics, History and Methodology, Feltrinelli, Milan 1967, pp. 332 including 46 plates, 20 cm, hardback ed.

Slight traces of use on the spine, otherwise in excellent condition. A rare classic.

Laura Breglia, Ancient Numismatics, History and Methodology, Feltrinelli, Milan 1964, pp. 312, illustrations, 46 plates, 22 cm, hardback edition with dust jacket.

Minor signs of wear on the dust jacket; otherwise in excellent condition.

Rare first edition.

Arturo G. Sambon, Engravers of the Neapolitan Coinage, Tipografia LF Cogliati, Milan 1893, pp. 16 p., ill., 2 splendid plates covered with tissue paper, 27 cm, brochure, ed. protected by a contemporary, silent brochure.

Elegant ex libris on the back cover.

Some foxing on the plates, but overall a good copy.

Very rare.

Bank Leu, Munzen und medaillen, Coins of Sicily and Southern Italy, 11 March 1987, Zurich 1987, pp. 79, 34 plates, cm 30, br. ed.

Attached is the list of hammer prices and the uncompleted bid form.

Important sales catalogue of the famous Spahr collection.

A handwritten E on the cover, otherwise in excellent condition. Rare.

The 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.

P. & P. Santamaria, Collection of Count Alessandro Magnaguti, Ex Nummis Historia, vol. XII, Coins and medals of the great sovereign families of Europe, P. & P. Santamaria Editori in Roma, Rome 1959, pp. XX, 130, 40 beautiful plates covered in vellum, 29 cm, binding in all black cloth with gold titles on the spine, paperback preserved ed.

Edition of 550 copies.

The catalogue presents 851 lots of coins and medals from European lordships, many minted in Italy.

Attached is the list of hammer prices.

In excellent condition.

Maria Amalia De Luca, The coins with Arabic legends from the Palermo Municipal Library, introduction by Filippo Guttuso, Part I, sn, Palermo 1998, pp. XXXIX, 399, richly illustrated, 31 cm, elegant cloth binding with gold titles and decorations on the covers and spine.

Aere Perennius Collection. Catalogs, 1.

At the top of the title page: City of Palermo, Department of Culture, Municipal Library.

Part I was the only one published. It is a work of considerable scientific interest, crafted with rigorous descriptive criteria and accompanied by high-quality illustrations.

Inside is a note from the Director of the Palermo Municipal Library, a direct testimony to the institutional context of the publication.

In perfect condition. Extremely rare.

Antonio Pagani, Proofs and Projects of Italian Coins or Coins Minted in Italy from the French Invasion to the Present Day (1796-1955), Popular Governments, Napoleonic Rule, Restorations, Kingdoms, Duchies, Grand Duchies, Papal States, Provisional Governments, Kingdom of Italy and Colonies, San Marino, Vatican City, Italian Republic and Somalia (AFIS), Albania, Mario Ratto Editore Numismatico, Milan 1957, pp. VIII, 160, richly illustrated, 29 cm, br. ed.

Slight traces of use on the paperback, otherwise in excellent condition.

Very rare.