Roman Coinage system

Question 1

Start of Roman struck silver coins

Answer 1

c.300 BC

Question 2

Start of Roman struck bronze coins

Answer 2

c.320 BC

Question 2

Start of Roman aes grave

Answer 2

320s BC

Question 3

establishment of the coherent Roman monetary system

Answer 3

c.264 BC

Question 4

Introduction of gold coins in new system of second PW

Answer 4

c.214-12 BC

Question 5

Introduction of silver denarius in new system of second PW

Answer 5

c.211 BC

Question 6

Start of victoriatus

Answer 6

c.212

Question 7

End of victoriatus

Answer 7

170 BC

Question 8

How were cast coins made?

Answer 8

pour metal into mould

Question 9

What system did Aug organise in coinage reforms?

Answer 9

5 denom bronze series:
sestertius
dupondius
as
semis
quadrans
2 silver coins:
denarius
quinarius
gold

Question 10

How could an imperial as and dupondius be distinguished?

Answer 10

dupondius shows the emperor in radiate crown

Question 11

What were the gold denoms in the Republican denarius system? value mark?

Answer 11

60-as LX
40-as XL
20-as XX

Question 12

What were the silver denoms in the Republican denarius system? as equiv? value mark?

Answer 12

denarius 10 X
quinarius 5 V
sestertius 2.5 IIS

Question 13

What were the bronze denoms in the Republican denarius system? as equiv? value mark?

Answer 13

dupondius 2 II
as 1 I
semis 1/2 S
triens 1/3 (4 circles)
quadrans 1/4 (3 circs)
sextans 1/6 (2 circles)
uncia 1/12 (1 circle)
semiuncia 1/24 Σ

Question 14

What was the short term silver denom? Value?

Answer 14

victoriatus
uncertain (no value mark): poss didrachm, poss special status value

Question 15

What was gold denom in Imperial system (to c286 BCE)? as value?

Answer 15

aureus 400

Question 16

What were silver denoms in Imperial system (to c286 CE)? as value?

Answer 16

denarius 16
quinarius 8

Question 17

What were bronze denoms in Imperial system (to c286 CE)? as value?

Answer 17

sestertius 4
dupondius 2
as 1

Question 18

What was the range of denoms, material, and their nummus equiv after Diocletian reforms?

Answer 18

solidus Au 40
denarius Ag 12.5-25
argentus Ag 4
nummus billon 1
radiate bronze 1/5

Question 19

In what period was the antoninianus minted?

Answer 19

c240 (time when it replaced denarius) to end of 3rd cent

Question 20

What changed to the Antoninianus in the period it was minted?

Answer 20

debased so much so as to change from silver to bronze material

Question 21

What monetary impact did Antoninianus initially have?

Answer 21

led to phasing out of denarius as people hoarded them due to higher intrinsic value

Question 22

At what value was Antoninianus when introduced? What value mark did it attain c271 and poss meaning?

Answer 22

1.5 denarii
XXI (POSSIBLY 20:1 bronze: silver ratio)

Question 23

What was the antoninianus reformed to by end of 3rd cent CE?

Answer 23

radiate

Question 24

When did Roman coinage first get made? What was it?

Answer 24

c320 BCE bronze

Question 25

What was earliest form of money in Rome? Origins?

Answer 25

struck bronze - aes signatum *ramo secco* tradition of Italian cultures (cast iron and bronze ingots of varying weights)

Question 26

Features of aes signatum?

Answer 26

-fixed weight -stamped image

Question 27

Feature of aes grave?

Answer 27

-COINAGE rather than lumps of metal -images on both sides -value marks based on as value

Question 28

What key italian mints influenced early R coinage?

Answer 28

Naples Campania Etruria

Question 29

What was the role of *tresviri monetales* in the empire?

Answer 29

oversaw the minting of ordinary issues

Question 30

Proper name of Caracalla? Signif?

Answer 30

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus He introd and is namesake of antoniniani

Question 31

What law explains the phasing out of the denarius due to Antoninianus use? What is it?

Answer 31

Gresham's law 'bad money drives out good' consumers y will hand over the overvalued coins, keeping the others for themselves; the intrinsically less valuable money is preferred in exchange, because people prefer to save the intrinsically more valuable money.

Question 32

What are the two reasons a consumer may keep coinage in line w Greshams law?

Answer 32

to melt down to bullion use in international trade

Question 33

Evidence of awareness of Gresham's Law in 5th cent BCE?

Answer 33

Aristophanes *frogs* 'Gold or silver, each well minted, tested each and ringing clear. Yet, we never use them! Others always pass from hand to hand.' in comparison beyween coins and political men

Question 34

Two options for the mint of the empire?

Answer 34

Lugdunum and Rome

Question 35

Evidence for R mint at Lugdunum? Problems?

Answer 35

strabo refers to an imperial mint there local inscrips refer to minting activity