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Why Few Roman Silver Coins Greater Than the Denarius?
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<p>[QUOTE="1934 Wreath Crown, post: 4481562, member: 76965"]@kevinMcGonigal I think you've asked the million dollar question that many a layman like me have often wondered about but were too afraid too ask<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The smaller gold coins (Solidus and Tremissis) came about much later in the life of the Roman Empire (mainly Byzantine era) which leaves a huge gap between the practical but modest Dinarius and the imposing Aureus. Although as pointed out earlier, the Greeks issued much larger coins in both Gold (Octodrachm) and silver (Decadrachm), albeit very few in number. But in silver coinage they had a wide range with the Drachm and its variations, the modest obol and its multiples or the quarter stater in gold.</p><p><br /></p><p>Surely when the Romans conquered all of Southern and South-Eastern Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa, in particular Macedonia, Greece and Egypt, the bulk of the wealth of the ancient world and all the gold and silver taken by Alexander the Great from Persia must have fallen into Roman hands for manufacturing and developing a more extensive variety of coinage. Why didn't they?</p><p><br /></p><p>Is one to assume then that the Ancient Greek Empire had a much more advanced coinage system which catered for all its requirements including international trade, affluent Greek citizens as well as the poor. Whereas, perhaps the Ancient Romans only minted coins mainly for use by their citizens and conducted large scale trade with Africa and India using bullion bars or weight equivalents??[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="1934 Wreath Crown, post: 4481562, member: 76965"]@kevinMcGonigal I think you've asked the million dollar question that many a layman like me have often wondered about but were too afraid too ask:) The smaller gold coins (Solidus and Tremissis) came about much later in the life of the Roman Empire (mainly Byzantine era) which leaves a huge gap between the practical but modest Dinarius and the imposing Aureus. Although as pointed out earlier, the Greeks issued much larger coins in both Gold (Octodrachm) and silver (Decadrachm), albeit very few in number. But in silver coinage they had a wide range with the Drachm and its variations, the modest obol and its multiples or the quarter stater in gold. Surely when the Romans conquered all of Southern and South-Eastern Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa, in particular Macedonia, Greece and Egypt, the bulk of the wealth of the ancient world and all the gold and silver taken by Alexander the Great from Persia must have fallen into Roman hands for manufacturing and developing a more extensive variety of coinage. Why didn't they? Is one to assume then that the Ancient Greek Empire had a much more advanced coinage system which catered for all its requirements including international trade, affluent Greek citizens as well as the poor. Whereas, perhaps the Ancient Romans only minted coins mainly for use by their citizens and conducted large scale trade with Africa and India using bullion bars or weight equivalents??[/QUOTE]
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