La circolazione monetale ad Antinoupolis

The Italian excavation campaigns conducted in the Northern Necropolis of Antinoupolis have consistently brought to light a wide variety of coins from different historical eras, including some prior to the foundation of the city itself, which occurred at the behest of Emperor Hadrian after 130 AD. These coins have proven to be an essential tool for more precisely establishing both the relative and absolute chronology of archaeological strata. From a numismatic point of view, the Northern Necropolis represents an extraordinary opportunity for study and in-depth analysis thanks to the notable quantity of specimens found and carefully catalogued. This allows us to explore in detail the issues related to coinage in Egypt in three crucial phases of its history: the
late ancient era, the so-called “Byzantine” period and the transition phase from Roman to Arab coinage, following the Islamic conquest. The excavations not only contributed to shedding light on highly relevant numismatic aspects, but also offered the possibility of analyzing the diffusion and monetary evolution in the Antinoupolis region between the 2nd and the beginning of the 8th century AD. Among the finds, the Guss–Münzen, or “melted coins”, found in the archaeological layers relating to the “Byzantine” and Arab periods stand out. These coins, with their unique manufacturing process, offer important information on the monetary practice of the time. At the same time, it was possible to study monetary circulation in the region, highlighting how different types of coins were used in the Antinoupolis area over a long period of time, signaling continuity and significant changes in the local economic system. A further significant contribution to numismatic studies comes from the monetary hoards discovered during the excavation campaigns. These hoards represent real time capsules, providing crucial information not only on the type of coins in circulation, but also on the economic and social dynamics that characterized the different historical phases of the city and Egypt as a whole. The coins found inside the Northern Necropolis, both in stratigraphic excavation contexts and as part of hoards, enrich the panorama of knowledge on ancient coinage, representing an invaluable heritage for scholars who intend to delve into the study of ancient economies and their evolutions.