Monete forate. Dallo scavo alla comprensione dell’uso

Perforation is one of the many forms of mutilation/manipulation that can be carried out on coin flans, modifying their structure or appearance. After such more or less invasive operations, the coin undertakes a second ‘life’, where it performs different functions from those for which it was manufactured. In some cases, a mutilated specimen may even add a third phase to its ‘biography’, circulating again alongside intact specimens. A great variety characterises the coin perforation, in terms of nominals used, number of holes, size and placement of hole(s), and the method of execution. All these differences suggest multiple and heterogeneous functions for the pierced coins. The paper intends to clarify these functions based on archaeologically excavated finds ‒ as undoubtedly holed during their circulation ‒, and also identify possible re-entries into the exchange circuit. The author also proposes a “Protocol for the Publication of Perforated Coins”, which should allow scholars to understand the consistency, chronological spread and variety of the use of coin perforation even in the western areas of the Roman Empire, although the research carried out so far suggest that the documentation is not particularly abundant.