Numismatics and Collections in Southern Italy: some case studies

This paper focuses on the role played by scholars, collectors and merchants for the development of numismatics, in Naples during the first half of the 19th century. Their roles were inextricably intertwined and gave meaningful results and instruments, such catalogues or studies, also in periodical issues, to improve knowledge of ancient or medieval numismatics. In the following pages many prominent scholars are remembered: among them, Arditi, Avellino, Fiorelli were also directors of the Royal Bourbon Museum in Naples. Meaningful were also relationship between these scholars and collectors with other interlocutors, both abroad and at home: in relation to this, here is introduced an unpublished letter of Arditi for de Beer, governor of Benevento. This paper deals also with some effects which such a numismatic tradition produced later, in the second half of the century in Campania, particularly in the “Terra di Lavoro”, as was named the Provincia of Caserta from medieval times. There, after Italy was unified, was established the “Museo Provinciale Campano” in Capua with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage of ancient Campania and of Terra di Lavoro: from this point of view, its numismatic collection was highly meaningful and representative on the institutional and political ground.