Monetization of Roman Egypt during the Flavian Dynasty (AD 69–96): the case of Alexandria and Berenike

• Authors: Lach, Katarzyna

Abstracts

EN

A study of coin output in Egypt during the Flavian dynasty (AD 69–96) brings to light a dichotomy in circulation between billon tetradrachms and low denomination bronze coins. The composition of hoards with Flavian silver issues suggests minimal coin production due to a sufficient quantity of Nero’s tertadrachms on the market. However, stray finds of coins from the Flavian dynasty consist mainly of bronze issues, apparently outnumbering Nero’s low-denomination coin output. A tempting idea to consider is that the low number of Flavian silver coins in circulation resulted in an extended production of bronze issues.

Keywords

EN

Roman provincial Egypt; Alexandrian coinage; Flavian dynasty For almost three centuries the economy of Roman Egypt was based on a relatively stable currency administered by the government. The boost in the provincial economy came with the widespread use of coins in commercial transactions (Harl 1996: 117). Nonetheless; it is essential to distinguish the concept of economic prosperity of the province from the assets of local inhabitants; half of whose income was collected in the form of taxes. Yet the process of monetization of Egypt did not proceed evenly. In Ptolemaic times some taxes were paid in coins; while the

• Publisher: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
• Journal: Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 24(1)
• Pages: 727-734

Contributors

author

Lach, Katarzyna

Identifiers

DOI

10.5604/01.3001.0010.0125