Original scientific paper
A Hoard of Duke Francesco Foscari from Sitno near Perković in the Dalmatian Hinterland (contribution to the knowledge of the economic and social situation)
Vedrana Delonga
Abstract
The work researches a hoard of the Venetian Duke Francesco Foscari (1423 – 1457) that was foundin Dalmatian village of Sitno that was a part of the Venetian district of Šibenik during the lateMiddle Ages. As a new point in the numismatic topography of Foscari’s coins in Croatia, the hoard isexamined from the numismatic point of view as well as within the economic and social context of theDuke F. Foscari’s period.The hoard consists of 16 coins, 15 of which (1 ducat, 1 grossona and 14 groschen) belong to DukeF. Foscari’s period, and 1 groschen belongs to Duke Cristoforo Mori’s period (1462 – 1471). The coinsare more precisely dated according to the initials of the person who had minted them, that is theperiod of their activity in the state mint in Venice. The year 1445 is the earliest emission of the hoard,and 1462 the last, also representing terminus post quem of the hiding/ laying of the hoard. All thecoins of the hoard, except the ducati, have been cut, which makes one of the main characteristics ofthe Foscari silver coinage found on the Croatian territory.One of the most prominent characteristics of the Foscari coins within the Croatian numismatictopography is its geographical location along the main road communication, the so-called militaryor big road (via exercitualis, via magna) that had connected Adriatic coast to Slavonia. Numerousmarkets and feudal forts were situated along the road or in its vicinity, and they were often visited byVenetian tradesmen, tradesmen from Dalmatian cities as well as Vlasi – Morlacs. There are some areasthat stand out: Karlovac region, area around Korana and Una rivers and Lika region.Data about distribution of Foscari coins with the list and the map of the sites that was presentedby Ivan Mirnik (Mirnik 1988) show this numismatic spatial scale and serve as a basis for thereconstruction of the Venetian emissions in Croatia between 1430s and 1460s.
Keywords
Francesco Foscari; Sitno – Sitnica; Šibenik district; hoard; numismatic topography; Croatia; economic situation
Hrčak ID:
8327
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2006.
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