The Supply and Movement of Denarii in Roman Britain. (30th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Creighton, John
• Is Part Of: Britannia. Volume 45(2014)
• Page Start: 121
• Page End: 163
• Publication Date: 2014-05-30
• Subjects: denarius, -- hoard, -- circulation, -- money-supply, -- Roman, -- Britannia; Great Britain -- History -- Roman period, 55 B.C.-449 A.D -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Antiquities, Roman -- Periodicals; Romans -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 936.10305
• DOI: 10.1017/S0068113X14000282
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0068-113X

Abstract

Abstract: Hoards of denarii are common in Britain and the number which have been recorded in detail means that it is now possible to suggest reasonably accurately what a 'normal' hoard of a particular date should look like. That being the case, we can then look for variation around that norm and both investigate and speculate what that variation means. A methodology is developed which suggests periods of faster and less rapid coin circulation which has implications for consideration of monetisation. The model also enables us to view where denarii entered circulation; unsurprisingly the army looms large in this picture. The methodology is directly transferable to other provinces and other periods where there are long-lived, relatively stable monetary systems.