Per una storia della semantica di <i>medaglia</i> in veneziano dai Vangeli medievali al vernacolo dell’uso

This article explores the chronological steps in the process of semantic change for the word medaglia from the early vernacular, especially Venetian, to the modern times, through the analysis of relevant textual sources. The evidence shows how the original meaning of ‘coin with a value of a half’ in Latin progressively changed into the current meaning of ‘medal’ across a semantic process common to many other names of coin. A major focus of attention has been set on the use of the word in the four Gospels in early Venetian (first half of 14th century AD) as a shared translating term for different names of coin in the Vulgate, through the mediation of the translation in ancient French (13th century AD).