The iconographic shift of the late third to mid fourth century AD: representations of the Emperor, Religion, and the Roman army on the imperial coinage from the Restoration of the Empire under Aurelian to the end of the Constantinian Dynasty (270 – 361)

Thomas Dunwell

Numismatic interest in the late Roman empire is a valuable and growing area of Classical scholarship. However, there is an evident gap concerning the iconographic shift that takes place during the late third/early fourth century AD. This project will aim to shed light on how and why the imperial coinage of this period underwent such a striking transformation. The three primary areas of analysis are: representations of the emperor, the Roman army, and religion, following a chronological timeline of the coinage beginning with Aurelian’s reign in 270, to the end of the Constantinian Dynasty in 361. This project will consider the reasons for the changing imperial ideology and how they were represented on the coinage. This should allow a greater insight into the wider context in which these coins were minted and provide further understanding of iconographic trends during the period. From the construction of the “barracks emperor” to the sense of unity and security through the God-like figures of the Tetrarchy, and a return to a militant style backed by the divine during the Constantinian period, the complexity and variety of coinage during this period offers an important and significant insight into the imperial ideology that requires additional exploration.

Newly introduced byzantine Silver Coins from 610 AD. to 720 AD. — Analysis and Context

Nikolaus Aue

While Wolfgang Hahn’s “Moneta Imperii Byzantini III” is still considered to be the most precise work on numismatics of the Early Byzantine era, it is now over 40 years old and lacking valuable new information regarding silver coinage from 610 AD to 720 AD. In other words, from the start of Emperor Heraclius’ reign until the end of Leo III’s autocratic rule.

The aim of this presentation is to give a brief overview of the results in numismatic advancement since 1981, the year in which the third volume of “Moneta Imperii Byzantini” was published. It covers hitherto unknown types of coins and their subsequent correlating publications. Said coins were found by reviewing auction databases, collector’s magazines, as well as archaeological excavations. By collecting information on these enigmatic specimens, the understanding of the monetary history of the Early Byzantine period will be significantly improved. For the first time, all these coins have been gathered in one place, thus creating a useful addition to the “Moneta Imperii Byzantini III”.

Medieval Hungarian coins in the collection of the Déri Museum

Ádám Novák

One of the most valuable parts in the collection of art collector Frigyes Déri is the numismatic collection that was assembled systematically on his request, which almost exclusively draws from, and is an exceptionally complete impression of Hungarian and Transylvanian mintage, with several unique pieces.

Determining figures of Hungarian numismatics conducted research in the collection, and recently the medieval gold forints that are kept here were also included in the Aranykönyv. Moreover, the catalogue of Árpád-era currencies also cites one or two coins. It can be established that the collection is well-known both amongst researchers and collectors, especially the Transylvanian mints, the selected pieces of which were published in several catalogues and studies. However, in our museum, medieval mintages are not only found as part of the Déri collection. The medieval coin material that is of heterogeneous origin and contains nineteen gold forints and several hundreds of silver denarii, has not yet received due attention.

In my presentation I will present some memorable pieces and the history of their arrival to the museum. I will also talk in detail about the 19 gold forints and the denarii treasure trove that was found in the woods of Józsa in 1981.

The usage of the coat of arms and coinage (1467–1490)

Balázs Nagy

In my presentation I am going to summarize the already well-known and catalogued coins, which are based on the late medieval coin hoard of Mohács I have processed. The 1467 monetary reform of King Matthias I (1458–1490) predetermined the direction and system of the Hungarian coinage for a good 60 years. The messenger role of the representation on money, which is shaped by the will of the minting authority, was hardly a novelty at the time of the late medieval minting. Thus, we can say that the minting was in the service of the authority at all times. However, the emphasis of Matthias I on Hungarian coinage as a focus of political propaganda could not be judged so far, as there were many unanswered questions regarding the depictions of coats of arms on the fittings. To answer these questions, I will use my latest research results as a basis, which also serves as an explanation for why Matthias I left the depiction of the coat of arms of his gold forints in 1471. In addition, I managed to distinguish the lion in the Czech coat of arms and the lion in the coat of arms of the Earldom of Beszterce, the development of which I would like to describe on the basis of all its denominations in the light of the titles and political aims of the king.

Coins from Nowhere. Locating a Medieval Village near Veszprém

Vivien Gönczi

In 2020 an extensive survey of metal detecting and fieldwalking took place in the eastern part of Veszprém county, between Litér and Királyszentistván. The survey was led by the archaeologists and volunteer metal-detectorists of the Laczkó Dezső Museum. The covered area was on the southwest part of Királyszentistván and contained an impressive amount of finds which included objects of everyday life (buckles, buttons, nails, horse equipment, pottery shreds etc.) and thirty-seven coins that can be dated to the medieval and early modern period.

An Early 16th Century Ottoman Coins Hoard and the Problem of the Use of Ottoman Coinage in the Transylvanian cities

Cristiana Tătaru

The circulation of the Ottoman coinage in Transylvania is a topic that attracted the attention of many researchers. Nevertheless, there are still many questions. How come the Ottoman coins, so intensely used in the daily transactions in Wallachia and Moldavia during the 15th and early 16th century, barely penetrated the Transylvanian markets? In this context, the main aim of this presentation is to introduce an Ottoman coins hoard found in 1969, in Veștem, near Sibiu. By placing this hoard and the hoards from Șieu, Bistrița County and Brașov in the same framework it can be deduced that the Ottoman silver coins reached the markets of the cities located in the contact areas between Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia. While at the turn of the sixteenth century, Brașov and Sibiu had a major role in the commerce between the Ottoman Empire and Central Europe, the custom registers do not record precise mentions about the use of the akçes, therefore the only resource about the real coins used in transaction remain the hoards and single finds of coins coming from the proximity of these important urban centers.

The hoard from Măriţei (Suceava county, Romania) — a mirror of the Moldavian currency between 16th and 17th centuries

Monica Dejan

One of the most important numismatic discoveries in Suceava County (Romania) was made in 1987. On the occasion of works on a local road in Măriţei (Suceava County), a treasure was discovered and 726 medieval coins issued in Hungary, Poland and the Holy Roman Empire between 1479/1492 and 1606 were recovered. This treasure is part of a horizon of accumulation that marks the political and military instability in Medieval Moldavia in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. At the same time, this numismatic discovery is a landmark for the economic and financial situation of Medieval Moldova in the period immediately following the cease of issuing the local currency by Moldavian princes, showing the structure of foreign currency issues used at the time.

Treasure-hoard horizon from the era of Long Turkish War – Two Ottoman-era coinhoards from excavation of Erdélyi Bastion (9. Táncsics Mihály street)

Orsolya Gálvölgyi

In 2018, György Terei revealed remains of the Erdélyi Bastion in the 9 Táncsics Mihály street. In the inner side of the bastion, two Ottoman-era coinhoards were found, which are special examples of money circulation in Turkish-occupied Buda. According to the closing dates of the hoards, both of them were hidden during the siege of Buda in 1603. The biggest amount of coinhoards were stashed during the Long Turkish War or the Fifteen years War (1590/1593 – 1606) in the Carpathian Basin. I am researching these hoards in my thesis for my doctor’s degree. These treasures found in the Erdélyi Bastion are new examples of this treasure horizon. My goal is to present them and to analyze money circulation in the second half of 16th century and to compare them to their analogies.

Studying coin circulation in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county: hoards and excavations from the Early Modern Ages

Zsolt Dezső Nagy

Many publications had been born in the topic of coin circulation from different ages. In my short brief, I would like to present my newest experience about Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county from the Early Modern Ages. The comparison of hoards and other kind of coin finds showed a slightly double-faced picture, especially we take excavations into consideration. Common or rare or unique? What do them mean in the aspect of coin circulation? What can we tell more about the life and network of settlements after finding some coins? Can we trust written sources only? Can we trust archaeological artifacts only? Should we mix everything every time? I hope, we will find it out.

"Buda capta 1686"

András Boromissza

In the Fifteen Years War (1591–1606) hope was once again lost to end the Turkish occupation of Hungary. The territory remained a warzone for a century, changing as the balance of power between the two competing empires. This maintained interest of other European states to the Turkish war news, especially in the concerned Habsburg Empire and various states of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 17th century the main ways of battlefield reporting were through flyers, graphics (engravings) and medallions. Engravings and medallions – compared to traditional paintings and sculptures – could be made and spread quicker, cheaper and with less effort, so they became the assets of war news reporting. Sieges were often captured by present graphic artists and military engineers. Their works were then copied and reproduced in printing houses and later in coin workshops. Imagery of medallions in the Baroque are allegorical, but often realistic – a feature of renaissance and mannerist art. – For the siege of Buda (1686) around 150 different types of medallions were made, most of it can be found in the Coins Collection of the Hungarian National Museum. In my presentation I will be bringing some examples from this collection, showcasing the characteristics of these types of medallions.

The fruits of learning: merit medals of the Catholic Archbishopric High School in Kalocsa

Róbert Szabó

My previous research on the history of the former Archbishop's High School in Kalocsa motivated me to explore and examine the types of medals and awards which was awarded for students who show exemplary diligent and impeccable behavior. My related results will be published in the near future in the Numismatic Bulletin, which has existed in Hungary since 1902. The sources of my research include the relevant Hungarian literature and school bulletins as a primary source.

In my lecture, I undertake to briefly present the concept and history of school merit medals in the Hungarian sense, and then to characterize the types of student merit medals awarded in my former high school in general. After that, I turn to the main topic of my presentation, the so-called praemiums to present the characteristics of the prizes (the reason for the reward and the material and types of the award). Finally, I make an attempt to determine the exact number of pieces allocated based on the notices available to the school today.

The last days of the Austro-Hungarian krone: collapse, overstamping, destruction

Milán Töreki

The Austro-Hungarian krone was the currency of Austria-Hungary. It was introduced in 1892. As a result of the First World War, the krone was devalued several times. It was financed mainly from war obligations rather than an increase in taxation. Consumer prices rose sixteen-fold during the war as the government urgently began printing money with the Austro-Hungarian Bank to pay for the expenses. On this way the rate of inflation thus exceeded that of the other war countries.

In the autumn of 1918, new states were established in two-thirds of the Kingdom of Hungary (Czechoslovakia, Romania and the Kingdom of Serbia-Croatia-Slovenia). In addition, new, independent areas have been established that have not existed so far. Breaking with the monetary policy of the Austro-Hungarian Bank, these areas wanted to recognize and introduce their own currency and their own monetary system.

After the end of the First World War, they first hoped that the krone could remain the common currency of the descendants of Austria-Hungary. However, on 1 January 1919, the Kingdom of Serbia-Croatia-Slovenia (later Yugoslavia) restricted the validity of Austro-Hungarian banknotes on their own area. In February 1919 Czechoslovakia did the same. After then on March 12, 1919, Austria also do that, in addition Czechoslovakia introduced the koruna instead of the krone.

In my presentation I would like to present the peculiarities and practical implementations of this period. I will illustrate this through many contemporary banknotes.