Metallurgy of Roman Silver Coinage - From the Reform of Nero to the Reform of Trajan

"The fineness of Roman imperial and provincial coinage has been regarded as an indicator of the broader fiscal health of the Roman Empire, with the apparent gradual decline of the silver content being treated as evidence for worsening deficits and the contraction of the supply of natural resources from which the coins were made. This book explores the composition of Roman silver coinage of the first century AD, re-examining traditional interpretations in the light of an entirely new programme of analysesof the coins, which illustrates the inadequacy of many earlier analytical projects. In addition, minor and trace elements, and lead isotopes, provide evidence for the supply of materials and refining and minting technology. Sometimes this allows us to determine the origin of the metal, whether freshly mined, or recycled. It can even pinpoint likely episodes of recycling old coins and, when combined with the study of hoards, hint at possible strategies of stockpiling of metal. The creation of reserves hasa direct bearing on the question of the adequacy of revenues and fiscal health"--

Product details

• Authors: Kevin Butcher, Kevin (University of Warwick) Butcher, Kevin (University of Warwick) Ponting Butcher, Kevin Ponting Butcher, Butcher Kevin, Matthew Ponting, Matthew (University of Liverpool) Ponting, Ponting Matthew
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 02.04.2015
• EAN: 9781107027121
• ISBN: 978-1-107-02712-1
• No. of pages: 830
• Subjects: Guides > Hobby, home > Collecting, collectors' catalogues; Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Technology > Miscellaneous; European History, HISTORY / Ancient / General, Ancient World, Ancient Rome, Ancient History, Classical history / classical civilisation, Metals technology / metallurgy, Ancient history: to c 500 CE, BCE to c 500 CE, BCE period – Protohistory, Classical Greek & Roman archaeology, Coins, banknotes, medals, seals (numismatics)