Ricerche di Numismatica della Missione Archeologica Italiana a Malta: fra reperti da scavo e monete della Collezione Nazionale Maltese

The paper analyses the coin finds from the two phases of the Italian archaeological investigations (1963–1970; 1999 to date) undertaken by the Italian Archaeological Mission in Malta at the multi–millennium sanctuary complex of Tas–Silg˙ , located on the south–eastern coast of the larger island in the archipelago. They include a deposit of coins found under the Palaeo–Christian baptismal font and 185 single finds (from Punic to modern times) from the archaeological excavations. The finds are studied in relation to the life of the sanctuary and within the framework so far established for contemporary monetary circulation in Maltese islands. The results of the numismatic project initiated by the Mission on the coins in the Maltese National Numismatic Collection, which also includes ancient artefacts from the territory, are also presented.