Le zecche illustrate : iconografia e interpretazione

This contribution offers a critical examination, survey, bibliography and illustrations of mint-scenes from Antiquity to 18th century Europe. For Antiquity the subject had not been studied since the monograph by Vermuele 1954, and for later period by Caspar 1974, both in need of much revision and updating. The authentic minting scenes from Antiquity are rare and some pretended mint-scenes should actually be interpreted differently. Mints were important offices within the State, but the way they were represented changed according to period, administration and local role. The most common image to synthetize the complex activity of a mint was that of a moneyer striking coins holding his hammer and the die, but more complex and intriguing scenes are discussed.