01-16-2001, 09:28 PM
It's all about the aurei..!<br>
<br>
Cat's right, although I don't know quite how much the army had to do with minting policy as far as gold issues go... (Where did you get that, Catiline? I'd be curious to read up on it.)<br>
<br>
Legions were paid bounties (praemia) in silver coin. That's certain, based on a wide range of surviving numismatic evidence. Denarii and sestercii frequently carried a reverse image honoring the specific legion that (presumably) was being paid with those very coins. Kind of neat, actually, and it's good evidence to help determine when these specific named legions existed.<br>
<br>
Anyway, a gold aureus was too high a denomination to circulate normally at markets and docksides (unless you're in the market for silk or Tyrian dye, that is). Think now, have any of us ever seen a worn-looking gold coin? Ever??<br>
<br>
(Plus, think about the unwanted criminal attention that a shiny gold coin attracts, in comparison to the easily tarnished, thus low-profile, silver denominations.)<br>
<br>
Senators and equestrians, I imagine, might have dealt with aurei, but very few "average citizens" would ever have had them. 1 aureus = 25 denarii FYI (c. 1 CE) <p></p><i></i>
<br>
Cat's right, although I don't know quite how much the army had to do with minting policy as far as gold issues go... (Where did you get that, Catiline? I'd be curious to read up on it.)<br>
<br>
Legions were paid bounties (praemia) in silver coin. That's certain, based on a wide range of surviving numismatic evidence. Denarii and sestercii frequently carried a reverse image honoring the specific legion that (presumably) was being paid with those very coins. Kind of neat, actually, and it's good evidence to help determine when these specific named legions existed.<br>
<br>
Anyway, a gold aureus was too high a denomination to circulate normally at markets and docksides (unless you're in the market for silk or Tyrian dye, that is). Think now, have any of us ever seen a worn-looking gold coin? Ever??<br>
<br>
(Plus, think about the unwanted criminal attention that a shiny gold coin attracts, in comparison to the easily tarnished, thus low-profile, silver denominations.)<br>
<br>
Senators and equestrians, I imagine, might have dealt with aurei, but very few "average citizens" would ever have had them. 1 aureus = 25 denarii FYI (c. 1 CE) <p></p><i></i>
Cheers,
Jenny
Founder, Roman Army Talk and RomanArmy.com
We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
Jenny
Founder, Roman Army Talk and RomanArmy.com
We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
