Hello Folks, Could you please provide what you consider reliable sources (books, articles, internet, etc.) for the estimated mintage numbers and estimate surviving samples of Constantine (I) the Great coins (or any Roman Imperials for the matter). Your opinion on the accuracy of the source would also be appreciated. Thank you kindly in advance. Stay Safe, Andrew
de Callataÿ F., "Calculating ancient coin production: seeking a balance" NC,155 (1995) p.289-311 de Callataÿ F.,ed., Quantifying Monetary Supplies in Greco-Roman Times, Bari, 2011 Hill G.F., "Ancients Methods of Coining", NC 1922, p.1-42 HillG.F., "The frequency-Table", NC 1924, p.76-85
The book "Coinage in the Roman Economy 300 B.C. to A.D. 700" by Kenneth W. Harl is an excellent source of information about the ancient Roman economy. The amount of coin output in various periods is one among many topics addressed in the book. It's been a while since I read it, but it seemed to be well-researched and reliable from what I can recall.
As Parthicus suggested Harl's book is a valuable reference source. Many experts have estimated mintage figures knowing the number of obverse dies used to strike a coin type. Those same experts estimate that one die was capable of striking 30,000 coins. Richard McAlee estimates that tetradrachms of Augustus numbered 1.5 million coins, & tetradrachms of Nero numbered 2.5 million coins. Roger Bland did a die study on the number of Tet dies used by Gordian III, which amounted to 315, yielding about 9.5 million coins. Bland also did a study on the number of dies used by Gordian III to strike radiates at the Antioch mint, 2,953 dies yielded 88.5 million coins ! Knowing the number of coins struck versus the number that have survived is another matter. Since so many coins of preceding emperors were melted down we can only guess at the number of surviving coins.