The Political Economy and Culture of Money in the Middle Ages: The Case of the Gold Florin of Florence, 1258-1300.

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First minted in Florence, probably in November 1252, the Florentine florin became for almost three centuries one of the most important and internationally accepted gold currencies of the Middle Ages. The activities that I will undertake as part of this twelve-month fellowship follow research which investigated the origins and the early life of this coin in the second half of the thirteenth century. My aim was to highlight the elements that contributed to its vast success, as well as the crucial role of individuals and political institutions in that process.My proposed further project expands into a wider timescale and geographical area, re-thinking the political economy and monetary culture of the florin throughout the late medieval European economy. Through the publication of two articles, I will show money acting as a unique way of linking people, something with political, social, cultural and religious dimensions of its own. To do this, I will draw from many research areas such as numismatics, and monetary, political, economic and social history to reach a broad understanding of the florin in its own time and place. The intended results include the submission of a book proposal for Manchester University Press and a presentation at the Social History Society Annual Conference, the ideal setting to engage with a wider audience of scholars at all stages of their careers. This fellowship will also gather together academics researching in related fields through an international workshop on 'Monetary Policy in Times of Crisis (5th-16th Centuries)' at the University of Manchester. This event will be open to graduate students, PhD researchers, early career academics and more established scholars to explore the policies adopted by medieval and early modern individuals and governments in time of monetary crisis, a very current topic considering the monetary upheaval we are experiencing today (Europe/EU, UK/GPB). This event will strengthen my research network for future impact projects.Sharing knowledge with a wider non-academic audience is another central aspect and impact of this fellowship. This will be achieved through two main activities: I will prepare an article for the magazine History Today, and a small and temporary exhibition at the Manchester Museum, which will highlight their rich coin collection. These activities are intended to connect with the general public, including families, schools, and the young, and communicate my research in an original and accessible way to everyone.Finally, the development of a new research proposal that combines the study of objects, of governments' monetary policies and the cultural history of money to investigate monetary crises in Northern and Central Italy between the late 13th and early 15th century, will enable me to prepare strong applications for further postdoctoral fellowships leading to permanent employment, thus providing continuity to my research.Overall, through these activities, the proposed postdoctoral fellowship will offer a unique opportunity for my transition from PhD-researcher to academic-researcher.