L’avventura della moneta. Dall’oro al digitale

What separates a barley loan recorded on a clay tablet more than four thousand years ago from a digital payment today?

Very little, apart from a long history of inventions, economic change and relationships of trust that has transformed the way we exchange goods, assign value and imagine the future.

And yet, both are forms of record-keeping.

From 11 November 2026 to 16 January 2027, the Galleria delle Esposizioni at Galata Museo del Mare in Genoa will host L’avventura della moneta. Dall’oro al digitale. Presented by Banca d’Italia through MUDEM – Museo della Moneta, the exhibition explores how money and finance have changed over time, through original artefacts, historical accounts and multimedia storytelling.

A journey spanning thousands of years, revealing how money has helped shape the world as it changed form—and how it continues to do so.

Much more than a history of coins

Money has not always looked the way it does today. Loans, debts, accounting records and complex forms of exchange all existed before coins were minted. Today, as money becomes increasingly digital, new technologies are once again transforming the way we pay and transfer value.

The exhibition is arranged in four thematic sections, taking visitors from the origins of finance to today’s monetary systems.

It begins with the invisible connections between the economy, money and payments, before entering the world of ancient Mesopotamia, where a clay tablet bears witness to a loan made more than four thousand years ago. The gold of Lydia, the coins of the Greek city-states and those of the Roman Empire tell the story of the birth and spread of coinage.

The journey continues through the great economic transformations of the Middle Ages and the modern era: the Florentine florin, Italy’s accounting tradition, the Industrial Revolution and the new financial instruments that supported the growth of trade and infrastructure.

The final section explores the consequences of monetary instability, the role of central banks and the Eurosystem, and the latest developments in payments, including the digital euro project.

Authentic objects, films and infographics offer an unusual perspective on history: that of the economic choices behind the great transformations of society.

Trust: a story thousands of years long

What gives money its value? Why do we accept a payment? What happens when prices rise or trust breaks down?

These are some of the questions visitors will encounter along the way.

An ancient coin can tell us about the power of a city or an empire. A banknote can reveal the effects of inflation. An old accounting document can help us understand how credit works today.

MUDEM uses these objects and accounts to show how the history of money can help us understand the economy and make more informed financial choices.

The exhibition is designed for a broad audience and requires no specialist knowledge. Curiosity about the objects and stories of the past is the starting point for exploring the economic questions of today.

From Genoa, MUDEM meets Italy

The Galata Museo del Mare is the first venue on the touring exhibition’s journey and marks the beginning of a collaboration between Galata and MUDEM. The choice is a natural one: Genoa, a maritime republic and a port open to the world, has made trade and finance part of its identity. In 2027, the exhibition will move on to Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Reggio Calabria and Palazzo d’Accursio in Bologna.

The project aims to introduce MUDEM’s collections, activities and cultural vision ahead of the planned 2027 opening of its permanent home in Rome, while building new partnerships with museums and cultural institutions in the region.

Genoa’s maritime history, mercantile tradition and banking institutions’ role in the development of international trade make it an ideal setting in which to explore the relationship between money, risk, credit and trust.

A natural dialogue with Galata Museo del Mare, where the routes of navigation meet the routes of economic history.

An exhibition to experience: workshops and talks

L’avventura della moneta extends beyond the exhibition galleries.

During its stay in Genoa, the exhibition will be accompanied by financial education workshops for schools, led by staff from the Bank of Italy’s Genoa Branch.

For primary school children, Il giro del mondo in 50 banconote invites them to explore countries, cultures and stories through the images and symbols found on banknotes.

For lower and upper secondary school students, Fa’ la tua scelta uses an interactive quiz to explore consumer choices and the psychological mechanisms that can influence them.

Workshops for adults are also planned, focusing on everyday financial decisions and behavioural economics.

The series of interdisciplinary talks L’avventura della moneta. Lo scambio infinito, previously hosted by MAXXI in Rome and Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, will also return to Genoa. Bringing together academics, professionals and representatives of public institutions, the talks will explore money, finance and trust, including in relation to the city’s history and maritime identity.

These are two complementary parts of a single project: Dall’oro al digitale tells the story through objects, while Lo scambio infinito explores its questions through conversation and debate with the public.

Practical information

Dates: 11 November 2026 – 16 January 2027
Venue: Galata Museo del Mare – Galleria delle Esposizioni, Calata Ansaldo De Mari 1, Genoa
Exhibition opening hours

• Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm
• In December, Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm

School workshops: Wednesday mornings during term time; additional Monday morning sessions available on request.
Adult workshops: Monday and Wednesday afternoons, on request.

Information and bookings for schools and groups: edufin.genova@bancaditalia.it

Find out more about MUDEM’s activities and projects: www.mudem.it

Admission to the exhibition is free during the opening. From 12 November 2026 to 16 January 2027, L’avventura della moneta. Dall’oro al digitale can be visited during museum opening hours in the Exhibition Gallery, and is included in the museum admission ticket.