In the 17th century, British literati were fond of "grand travels", and Edison became interested in ancient Roman commemorative medals during his travels in Italy. His travelogue "Notes on Italy" frequently mentioned commemorative medals. During his time in France, Edison developed an interest in numismatics and completed the initial draft of the tragedy "Gatu", which featured commemorative plaques and character images. After returning to England, he wrote "The Function of Commemorative Medals", calling them "poetic coins" and exploring their value. Gama and Alvarez respectively studied the aesthetic value of commemorative medals in Edison's works and their application in literary creation. This article will explore the relationship between commemorative medals in "Italian Notes" and literary creation and social criticism.

The "Poetry and Painting Mutual Evidence" in the Journey: The Aesthetic and Archaeological Value of Commemorative Medals

Edison delved into the aesthetic and archaeological value of ancient commemorative medals in his "Notes on Italy", viewing them as small reliefs with usually a portrait of an emperor on the front and buildings and scenes depicting his achievements on the back. During the Renaissance, collecting ancient coins became a hobby of the elite class, and commemorative medals became a tool for spreading the country's image. Edison's interest in numismatics originated from his trip to France in 1699, where he gained knowledge of numismatics from French naturalist Ficorini and studied newly published works on numismatics in France at that time.

The Moral Republic: The Moral and Political Functions of Commemorative Medals

Edison regarded ancient coins and commemorative medals as carriers of virtue in his "Italian Notes", believing that their value lies in the extension of social ethics and political functions. Since the mid-16th century, ancient coin images have been used to prove history and symbolize virtue. Edison corrected numismatics in his book "The Function of Commemorative Medals", emphasizing that commemorative medals are a carrier of nobility and greatness, conveying praise for piety, order, virtue, and justice. Commemorative medals are not only providers of historical information, but also political propaganda tools for educating the public and building the national image. The ancient Roman emperors recorded their military achievements through columns of merit and triumphal arches, while commemorative plaques presented their virtues in a three-dimensional and down-to-earth manner. Edison depicted typical Roman commemorative medals of merit in his travelogue, such as the Trajan Column of Merit and the Triumphal Arch of Severus, as well as commemorative medals minted by the people to praise the emperor's good deeds. The theme of ancient Roman commemorative medals is serious, and there will be no disrespectful language on the coins, but rather praise. Commemorative medals excessively beautify the image of emperors, but as long as they serve as moral inspiration and political propaganda, they can achieve their goals.

Rust removal of old coins: the "Roman analogy" in Britain

Edison explored the preservation and revival of ancient Roman civilization through ancient commemorative plaques in his "Italian Notes". He believes that commemorative medals are a microcosm of history, better preserved for a long time than buildings and sculptures, and have eternal commemorative value. Edison described the importance of rust on ancient coins, believing that it could recreate a lost civilization. He expressed his hope for the revival of a fallen civilization through the metaphor of 'removing rust from old coins'. In the two chapters of "Rome" and "Surrounding Cities of Rome", Edison explores ancient Roman artifacts and surrounding cities, expressing his regret for the loss of civilization and his hope to learn from the past to the present.