The monetary economy of the eastern Mediterranean, from Trajan to Gallienus
Although the third century has been characterised by modern scholars as a period of crisis from which only a few historical data have survived, I have been able to establish that the numismatic evidence found at excavated sites or in coin hoards is adequate for a detailed examination of the monetary system, its changes and its effect on the circulation of coinage and the use of money in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. Unpublished material from seven museums in Greece and four museums in Turkey completes the picture, which shows that the circulation of bronze coinage was highly localised, since we rarely find coins away from the province of their production. In some cases, the pattern of the circulation of silver coinage also has localised characteristics. There is also evidence that indicates that, while the production of money was motivated by the political and military needs of the emperor, the wider use of coinage was promoted by a range of social elements that were involved, one way or another, with the local or inter-regional markets. Alterations of any of these factors could affect the circulation of coinage, the monetization of the empire and would eventually lead to adjustments in the currency
Katsari, Constantina
Roman Empire
The monetary economy of the eastern Mediterranean, from Trajan to Gallienus. Although the third century has been characterised by modern scholars as a period of crisis from which only a few historical data have survived, I have been able to establish that the numismatic evidence found at excavated sites or in coin hoards is adequate for a detailed examination of the monetary system, its changes and its effect on the circulation of coinage and the use of money in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. Unpublished material from seven museums in Greece and four museums in Turkey completes the picture, which shows that the circulation of bronze coinage was highly localised, since we rarely find coins away from the province of their production. In some cases, the pattern of the circulation of silver coinage also has localised characteristics. There is also evidence that indicates that, while the production of money was motivated by the political and military needs of the emperor, the wider use of coinage was promoted by a range of social elements that were involved, one way or another, with the local or inter-regional markets. Alterations of any of these factors could affect the circulation of coinage, the monetization of the empire and would eventually lead to adjustments in the currency
monetary economy eastern_mediterranean although characterised modern_scholar period crisis historical data survive able_establish numismatic_evidence find excavate_site coin_hoard adequate detailed_examination monetary_system change effect circulation coinage use money eastern part roman_empire unpublished_material museum greece museum turkey complete_picture show circulation bronze coinage highly localise since rarely coin away province production case pattern circulation silver_coinage also localise characteristic also evidence indicates production money motivate political_military need emperor wider use coinage promote range social element involve one_way another local inter_regional market factor could affect circulation coinage monetization empire would eventually lead adjustment currency