2015 INTERNATIONAL NUMISMATIC CONGRESS

It seems hard to believe that five years have passed since the Glasgow Congress and that another is now rapidly approaching. The XVth International Numismatic Congress will be held in Taormina from Monday 21 to Friday 25 September 2015. It is being organised by the Department of Ancient and Medieval Numismatics at the University of Messina.

Taormina is an ancient town situated on the northeast coast of Sicily in the shadow of Mount Etna. The old town sits on the hills above the modern town built around a typical Mediterranean bay. It is a beautiful and popular seaside resort with much of interest for the archaeologist, historian and numismatist. Sicily with its splendid numismatic tradition could not be a more apt place for a coin congress and Taormina produced its own issues in the third century BC.

The organising committee is chaired by Maria Caccamo Caltabiano, with Mariangela Puglisi acting as Secretary. Much progress was reported by Professor Caltabiano to the INC Committee at its recent annual meeting held in Glasgow.

The congress will take place in the old town with the main venue being the Palazzo dei Congressi, a modern conference centre situated just off the main street. It has a variety of lecture theatres and meeting rooms which can accommodate everything from the opening and closing sessions to the needs of a large and varied lecture programme. There are breakout areas for morning and afternoon coffee and discussion. Registration, information, book fair and poster show will be here too. The nearby medieval Palazzo Corvaja will also be used.

As always the core of the congress will be the scientific programme. This will consist of ten parallel sessions: General Numismatics; Communicating Numismatics; Ancient Greek coins; Roman coins; Other ancient coins; Medieval European and Byzantine; Modern Western European; Islamic, Asian and African; Oceanic and New World ; Medals. The Call for Papers is now open and there is a limit of 400, essentially on a first come – first served basis. The deadline for submitting a proposal and abstract is 30th November 2014. Anyone considering giving a talk should perhaps make their submission sooner rather than later. There is a limit of 50 for the poster session. Round Tables will include The New Landscape for Greek Numismatics and Religion and Money in the Middle Ages.

Registration is also open. The cost is 300 euros, reduced to 150 for members of the INC and students, and 75 for an accompanying person. However, after 1 June 2015 these rise to 450, 250, and 100 euros respectively. The registration fee covers entrance to the opening and closing ceremonies, all sessions, congress materials, tea and coffee breaks, an Inauguration Show, Welcome Reception and Cocktail Party.

There is a wide variety of accommodation which can be booked at the same time. For those staying in or visiting the new town there is a frequent, cheap and convenient funicular linking the old and new towns. There is a reasonable air service from Britain to Sicily, to Palermo and Catania airports. The latter is closer to Taormina with a direct airport bus link though there also a train service between Catania and Taormina.

A number of excursions have been organised for the Wednesday afternoon, 23 September, and all day on Friday, 25 September. The half day trips are to Ancient Naxos, Catania and the Alcantara Gorges (and Winery) while the full day ones go to Mount Etna (the volcano and its wines), Messina and Reggio Calabria, Syracuse and Noto, and Piazza Armerina, Morgantina and Aidone. There is a separate charge for these excursions which can be booked when registering. There is also a Congress Dinner in the San Domenico Palace Hotel on Thursday evening (24th September) which can also be booked and paid for with registration.

For more information on the Congress, see: XV International Numismatic Congress (www.xvcin.unime.it)

For more information on the Money & Medals Network, see: www.moneyandmedals.org.uk

Wayne Homren, Editor

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