PRAGUE GROSCHEN IN THE RESEARCH OF CZECH NUMISMATICS

Abstract

The aim of the article is a comprehensive analysis of the formation, development and current state of research in Czech numismatics of the XIX - early XXI centuries in the context of coinage, penetration and use of Prague groschen as a means of payment in Central and Eastern Europe in the late Middle Ages and early modern times. The research methodology is outlined by the principles of scientificity, historicism, objectivity, and the main methods used in the study were historiographic analysis and historiographic synthesis, as well as general scientific methods of generalization and systematization. The scientific novelty is determined by the attempt to comprehensively analyze and generalize the historiographical achievements of Czech numismatics in the context of the problem of the participation of Prague money in the circulation of Central and Eastern Europe in the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. The process of formation, development and current state of Czech and Slovak numismatics in the study of chronology and geography of Grossi pragenses penetration into the coin markets of Central and Eastern Europe in the XIV-XV centuries are considered. The authors have singled out periodization of the historiographical process of numismatic research of the outlined problem is formulated and substantiated, the range of issues that need further study and scientific interpretation. Conclusions. The analysis of the historiographical work outlined in the topic of the article allows distinguishing three consecutive periods of numismatic research on the issue of minting and circulation of Prague groschen. The first period of Czech and Slovak historiography of the problem covers the 80's of the XIX - 30's of the XX century. Beginning with sporadic attempts to describe and register the known types of Prague groschen minted by Czech kings from Wenceslas II (1278-1305) to Ferdinand I (1526-1562). At the beginning of the twentieth century, these studies grew into purposeful scientific cataloguing, study, and systematization of metrological indicators of coins, details of their images, legends, and countermarks. Special studies of the preconditions for the preparation and conduct of the monetary reform of Wenceslas II, the rate of coins minted by him, and the peculiarities of the issuance policy of this monarch were begun. At the same time, a description of the stamp versions of Vladislav II's money (1471-1516) was initiated. However, the technical imperfection of the equipment for visual inspection and photo-fixation of numismatic material at that time often caused incomplete or inaccurate data. The second period of numismatic research on our topic covered the 1950s - early 1990s. At this time there is not only an expansion of the study of the history of minting and circulation of Prague groschen but also qualitative changes in the methodology of numismatic research. The stamp varieties and chronology of the issue of Prague groschen, including those minted during the reigns of John of Luxembourg, Wenceslas IV and Charles IV, Wladyslaw II, and Louis I, have been studied. Scholars described and analyzed countermarks (overprinting) on coins, drew attention to the historical and art analysis of the iconography of Prague groschen; the quality of coinage. The third, modern period of development of Czech and Slovak numismatic studies on the history of minting and circulation of Prague groschen began in the first half of the 1990s. This historiographical period differs from the previous ones primarily by the intensive replenishment of the database of numismatic sources on the topic. On the other hand, the study of coinage and circulation of Prague groschen from purely historical or numismatic grow into interdisciplinary, increasingly numismatists, to search or confirm data, use not only relevant methods of numismatics (methods of stamping and comparative analysis, topography of treasures and individual coins). allocation of periods of money circulation, methods of analysis of the composition of coin treasures), complex methods of special historical disciplines, but also modern non-destructive methods of natural sciences (Physico-chemical analysis of coin metal, spectral research, etc.). Technical perfection of modern devices used by scientists for visual inspection and macro photography of coins facilitates complete research. The current stage of research of Czech numismatists in the field of our problem is characterized by a combination of research efforts in the study of some theoretical and applied issues of minting and circulation of Prague groschen. In particular, data on recently discovered treasures of Prague groschen are published, the history of their minting in the archaic period (1300-1385) is studied, and little-known and previously unknown variants of stamps of these coins are studied. The new source base describes the technological and typological features of numerous coinage varieties of Prague groschen of Wenceslas IV (1378-1419) and Ferdinand I (1526-1562), coins are arranged in detail by type and catalogued. A separate area of numismatic research became the issue of counterfeiting Prague groschen.