Coinage in Roman Egypt: The Hoard EvidenceIn this volume, Erik Christiansen uses Alexandrian coin hoards to explore the use of money in Egypt from its conquest by Augustus in 30 BC to Diocletian's currency reform in AD 296. Although these finds, with their wide array of Graeco-Roman and Alexandrian reverses, have traditionally been classified as a part of Greek coinage, he demonstrates clearly that they belong to the Roman imperial coinage. The hoards also show that Roman Egypt enjoyed a widespread monetized economy, in addition to the credit system described in extant papyri. The relative abundance of such documents provides Christiansen with a good supplemental source of information for his conclusions. And since financial administration is known to have been quite uniform throughout the empire, this book provides a useful window on not only Rome's shifting economic fortunes but also monetary policy in other provinces, which did not leave behind the rich heritage of coins and documents that Egypt did. |
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according actual Alexandrian coins Alexandrian tetradrachms amount ancient Antoninus Pius Aurelian AURELIAN post-reform AURELIUS pre-reform belong billon coins bronze coins caused century chapter Christiansen 1988 circulation Claudius clear coinage collections Commodus compared conclusions contained currency Dattari debasement deposited Diocletian drachms Egypt emperor Empire end date especially excavations existing explanation four GALBA Gallienus gold GORDIAN Hadrian hand hoard evidence hoard was found illegible imperial increase insula interesting Karanis Hoards known late later least less Marcus Aurelius mean Milne Nero Nero's number of coins offered older original papyri payments perhaps period pieces possible present probably Probus production Ptolemaic publication questions reason reform reign remains reported represent reverse Roman seems silver silver coins specimens striking Studies sufficiently TABLE TACITUS tell Tetrarchy TRAJAN types unknown VALERIAN VESPASIAN weight whereas