Ranieri

Ranieri, E. La monetazione di Ravenna antica dal V all' VIII secolo: impero romano e bizantino, regno ostrogoto e langobardo. (Bologna, 2006).

The ancient coinage of Ravenna in the fifth to eighth centuries: Roman and Byzantine Empire, Ostrogothic Kingdom, and Lombards.

Hardbound, Xviii and 250 pp., including in-text plates, charts, and bibliography. 850 coins classified. Text in English and Italian. Typical of books received from Italy the corners all have minor bumps.

Egidio Ranieri, a numismatist with an interest in the coinage of Ravenna during the late Roman, Byzantine, and early medieval periods, has produced an overview and type corpus of that city's coinage from its foundation as an imperial mint in AD 402 until its closure when Ravenna fell to the Carolingians in AD 753.

Drawing upon the work of Lacam, Kent, Hahn, and Metlich, as well as specimens in many of the major collections and auction catalogs, Ranieri provides a systematic overview of the coinage of Ravenna from the Roman emperor Honorius to the Lombard king Aistulf. Written in Italian with an excellent side-by-side English translation, the work is divided into two main sections. The first serves as an overarching introduction and a review of the Theodosian monetary reforms regarding weights and nominal values. Also included are charts defining Germanic monograms and Greek alphabetic numerals found on the coinage, a chronology of the Late Roman and Byzantine imperial dynasties until the early ninth century, a list of city abbreviations, associated numismatic abbreviations, rarity guide, and a schema of crown and helmet types found on the Byzantine issues of this mint.

The catalog of coins begins the second section. Arranged by ruler, each is subdivided first by metal, and then by denomination in decreasing value. Each known variety is listed under a specific (and photographed) typological number, and where known, a struck date for the issue. All varieties are cross-referenced to its source. A brief biography is also included with each ruler entry. So-called "barbarian" issues are examined and noted in relation to official issues and contemporary monetary policy. A select Bibliography, as well as auction catalogs and public collections cited, rounds out the text.

Ranieri is a suitable standard reference for the numismatist and specialized collector of the coins of Ravenna, as well as an accessible and comprehensive reference for the beginning collector, the academic non-specialist, and anyone interested in this important mint and period.