Published: Sunday, 10 September 2023 – current affairs editorial team
ROCCA DI PAPA (events) – In 2012, 58 gold and silver coins from the medieval era accidentally came to light. They are exhibited in Velletri
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In 2012, a coin stash from the medieval era (13th-14th century) on the wooded side of Colle Iano-La Forcellanear Rocca di Papa.
Over the centuries the coins had been dispersed over a large stretch of the ridge and the recovery of the treasure took place in several phases, since the fortuitous discovery was followed by extensive verification activity and stratigraphic excavation tests. The recovery works were coordinated by the then Archaeological Superintendence of Lazio and Southern Etruria, while the study activity was entrusted to numerous experts who with dedication, scruple and patience attempted to reconstruct the historical, archaeological and numismatic picture of this important discovery.
The recovery methods and the numismatic data offered by the storage room were addressed in detail by the archaeologist Flavio Altamura, originally from Rocca di Papa.
Flavio Altamura he trained at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, where in 2017 he completed his PhD in Archaeology. Since 2011 he has been part of the Italian archaeological mission in Melka Kunture and Balchit, Ethiopia, where he directs the excavation of prehistoric sites. For many years he has collaborated with the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan Area of Rome, the Province of Viterbo and southern Etruria. He has conducted numerous investigations in Lazio and in particular in the Alban Hills area, dealing with the study and publication of various archaeological and numismatic contexts found in the area.
Regarding the exceptional discovery of the Colle Iano-La Forcella treasure, the archaeologist wrote a book entitled The treasure of Colle Iano – Proceedings of the study meeting, O. Nardini Civic Archaeological Museum of Velletri, Flavio Altamura (ed.), Rome, ed. Quasar, 2017.
With the writing of this volume Altamura aimed to collect the interventions of the study meeting dedicated to the treasure, which took place on 16 May 2015 at the museum mentioned in the title of the book.
In all they were recovered 58 examples in gold and silver datable to 14th century; the nest egg was probably hidden around 1380. Thirty-one coins are lily pugs in silver, minted in the Kingdom of Naples by Charles II (1825-1309, one specimen), Robert of Anjou (1309-1343, thirteen specimens) and his successors (‘robertini’ lilies, seventeen copies). Twelve coins are big in silver issued in Rome in the mid-14th century, during the period of the Roman Senate. On the reverse are depicted Senators of important Roman families (Orsini, Annibaldi, Colonna, Stefaneschi).
Seven coins were minted by Popes Urban V (1362-1370) and Gregory XI (1370-1378) in the mint of Avignon in France, where the papal court had moved. It’s a big six and a half big in silver. Three silver coins belong to issues from cities in central-northern Italy: a big agontano from Ancona, one from Rimini and one bolognino of Bologna issued between 1350 and 1360.
Five gold coins were also found: there are two ducats of the Republic of Venice and bear the names of the doge Giovanni Soranzo (1312-1328) and Bartolomeo Gradenigo (1339-1342) respectively; finally there are a florin of Florence and two imitations of florin minted one in the German center of Lübeck and the other by Louis I of Hungary in the city of Buda between 1354 and 1357.
The Colle Iano-La Forcella treasure is probably not to be considered complete due to the long exposure it has undergone over the centuries. However, it is of great importance as it is the first attestation of this type known for the 14th century in the Roman area.
The treasure is currently stored at the “Oreste Nardini” Civic Archaeological Museum of Velletriwhich today also houses the famous Sarcophagus of the Labors of Hercules.
by Flavia Santangeli
2023-09-10 18:14:36
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