Renovatio monetae in medieval Italy

The theme of 'renovatio monetae' is relevant in many areas of medieval Europe, consisting of a succession of replacements of existing coins: this implied a strict control over circulation, a fiscal use of mints and coinage, and could only happen where few coin-types were in use. Evidence of renovationes can be found in careful study of hoards and finds and in this paper I present the evidence related to the Kingdom of Sicily in the 13th century, revealed by my joint analysis of numismatic and literary evidence. This contribution is published in a volume dedicated to the great Polish numismtist S.Suchodolski who invesitagated the topic in other areas and periods.