Economic rebound versus imperial monopoly: Metal provenance of Early Medieval coins (9th–11th centuries) from some Italian and French mints

Abstract

This paper represents the first systematic Pb isotope investigation of Italian Medieval coins and aims to provide new parameters for a general historical interpretation of coin production and circulation in Medieval Europe. We collected more than one hundred specimens, minted in a period between 9th − 14th centuries AD and coming mostly from archaeological sites of Tuscany. Here we report the results on the oldest group of (44) coins, dated between the end of the 9th and 11th centuries. All coins where previously characterized with handheld X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis and lead isotope composition (PbIC) was performed using an MC-ICP-Mass Spectrometer. The Carolingian coins have PbIC compatible with Melle silver district; the few Carolingian coins possibly minted in Italy (Venice and Milan) are also compatible with ore districts such as Melle and Harz Mountains. Coins in the names of Italian rulers (9th-10th century) from Lucca, Pavia and other uncertain mints show PbIC compatible with Melle, Black Forest and the Harz Mountains as well. A quite similar pattern applies to coins in the names of Otto I-III and Conrad II (10th-11th century) from Lucca and Pavia mints, although they show a better overlap with the Harz Mountains. The vast majority of early medieval coins issued by the Italian mints investigated in the present paper show isotope compositions that do not match with silver (lead-copper) mines from the Colline Metallifere district of southern Tuscany, notwithstanding their exploitation in the considered period is suggested by many settlements located near mining sites.