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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Cherd, post: 23572804, member: 24754&quot;]Wow, you are a fountain of ancient knowledge! These examples really help put things into perspective.</p><p><br /></p><p>But, I guess my perspective issues weren&#039;t really about the wealth of the emperor or the state, but more about the physical aspects of such a payment (Couldn&#039;t just write him a check back then!).</p><p><br /></p><p>I was wondered if it is like when people envision what $1,000,000 dollars cash looks like, but are surprised when they actually see that amount in $100 bills (Could fit it in a backpack). I was curious, so I came up with an extremely rough approximation. (I entertain myself in strange ways <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie12" alt="o_O" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />)</p><p><br /></p><p>I found a YouTube video where a guy had a 5 gallon bucket of change (mostly pennies) and took it to a Coinstar machine. This is what fit in his 5 gallon bucket:</p><p><br /></p><p>32 Halves</p><p>8 Quarters</p><p>88 Dimes</p><p>657 Nickels</p><p>15127 Pennies = ~ 16,000 coins (pretty much all pennies)</p><p><br /></p><p>Based on this, 500,000 aurei would represent something like 32 x 5-gallon-buckets full. Aurei tended to be a 1-2 mm larger than pennies, plus the extra relief compared to modern coins would have caused them to take up more space...... So I&#039;m guessing something like 40 5 gallon buckets.</p><p><br /></p><p>This type of volume (200 gallons is about 27 ft3, so 3x3x3 ft), would fit in an ox cart, but then there is the weight! Assuming 4.7 grams each, that would be over 5,000 lbs (2,350 kg). That&#039;d probably be to much for an ox cart, or the oxen to transport.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;So, the total volume would have been something like a large chest, and could have been hauled by 4-5 ox carts or something like that.</p><p><br /></p><p>I guess the biggest challenge would have been finding enough people to work in moving this type of load across the countryside without having the cargo go missing! <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie58" alt=":jimlad:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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