Speaker
Description
Decanummia of type MIB 229 in Hahn's typology were produced over a relatively long period. The earliest of these coins bear a mark of the 26th year of Justinian's reign, the latest date from the 38th year of his reign. Their mint has long been a matter of numismatic debate. Numismatists have attributed these coins to Italian mints: Ravenna (DOC) or Rome (BMC, MIB) and they undoubtedly share some elements of the style characteristic of the better studied west Byzantine coins. However, the small number of archaeological finds and the very modest documentation in local museum collections makes it difficult to determine the exact place of their production.
In my paper, I will present the finds of MIB 229 decanummia from archaeological excavations in Sicily. Studies on these finds supported by the XRF analyses provide the basis for a hypothesis on the Sicilian origin of these coins.
