Una zecca di falsari nel castello di Godano (La Spezia): note sulla tecnica di produzione e di argentatura delle monete sullo scorcio del Medioevo

Between 2010 and 2020, a series of historical and archaeological studies focused on the castle of Godano, located in the hinterland of La Spezia. These investigations shed light on the history of this settlement between the Middle Ages and the Modern Era. Notably, traces of activity from an unauthorised mint were discovered, which likely played a role in the destruction of the stronghold in 1524.

This contribution presents data from the archaeological, archaeometric, and numismatic analysis of materials recovered during the excavations, helped to clarify various production processes used to create different series of counterfeit coins modelled after the official coinage of the mints of Piedmont, Liguria, Emilia, and Tuscany. In particular, it examines in depth the surface silvering techniques employed to produce fake quattrini of Siena and cornuti of Carmagnola. Based on the evidence from this site, we also offer some general considerations on coin production with a focus on the supply of raw materials, production indicators, the transmission of techniques, and the workers involved in this type of fraudulent activity between the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Era.