Ancient and Medieval Numismatics in the context of contemporary Methodological Paradigms

The paper systematizes the potential of archaeometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis, statistics of physical wear, and die modelling as instruments for reconstructing the geography of metal, the scale of coin emissions, and the dynamics of monetary circulation. Particular attention is given to the role of the “material turn” and the concept of the “biography of things,” which interpret the coin as a physical object possessing a technological history and variable social functions. The article also highlights the potential of Linked Open Data (Nomisma.org, OCRE) and databases for the topography of coin finds (CHRE, DARMC, FLAME), as well as the application of artificial intelligence and computer vision for the automation of die analysis. The conclusions emphasize that numismatics is evolving from a descriptive corpus-based discipline toward an interdisciplinary analytical-network model in which the coin appears as a material, digital, and symbolic source for historical and economic reconstruction.

ancient coins · archaeometry · coin circulation · coin provenance · Computer vision · flames · Linked Open Data · material turn · medieval coinage · ocre · X-ray fluorescence · Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies · Artificial Intelligence · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · Metallurgy and Cultural Artifacts