Zecca

Stahl brings the medieval mint to life... This is a book of enormous importance not only for the history of Venice but also for medieval numismatic history in general.

Stahl's very intelligent organization allows one to dip into this nearly encyclopedic work for material on a wide range of matters in economic, social, political and numismatic history. His command of secondary studies allows for a reliable synthesis of these, while his extensive archival research provides him both a critical stance and ample matierial for exploring his own interests.

Extremely well written... Future research on mints and minting in Italy during the Middle Ages, and indeed throughout Europe, will have to take this book into account. Stahl has set a challenging standard to follow.

Stahl's experience as a numismatist is evident as he blends a discussion of medieval metallurgy with modern scientific techniques and statistical analysis to reveal previously unknown information about the composition of the coins and the volume of coinage produced... A well-rounded and well-documented history of this crucial Venetian institution.

Worthy for any scholar working on either pre-modern minting or Venetian History... an enduring contribution.

One of the very best monographs in numismatic and monetary history, and certainly in numismatics, that I have ever read. Along with being exceptionally well researched and documented, the book is also very well written, and indeed a pleasure to read.

This book is the most penetrating study yet written of any mint in late medieval Europe, and has particular importance because of the sheer size of the Venetian mint, one of the largest in Europe. Alan Stahl's work admirably complements the volumes by Frederic Lane and Reinhold Mueller on money and banking in medieval Venice. Zecca crowns twenty years of distinguished work in the Venetian archives. All future studies of medieval mints will have to take account of what he has written.

This is an important work of solid scholarship that sheds new light on the Venetian mint as an institution. Stahl makes good use of numismatics. He also emphasizes people in a detailed manner. This not only enlivens the book by bringing to life bullion merchants and mint officials, but also sharpens our understanding of these important economic actors.