Des érudits du XIXe siècle à Adrien Blanchet : la genèse des études de trésors monétaires en France

Abstract

Adrien Blanchet is generally considered as the founding father of coin hoard studies in France. However, Blanchet’s masterpiece, Les trésors de monnaies romaines et les invasions germaniques en Gaule (1900), relies on reports by 19th century local scholars. The latter’s works have been judged quite harshly by modern numismatists. Imperfect as they may be, early hoard studies have the merit of existing at a time when single collectible items were preferred over archaeological groups of objects. Also, they provide thoughtful insights on the way coin hoards were dealt with, physically as well as scientifically, in 19th century France.