Spilt Tea

archaeology:

Hoard of Necessity Coins Discovered in Roman Workshops

‘During the final weeks of the excavation the archaeologists also found a cache of Roman coins dating to the end of the 3rd century AD which were buried in a pit sealed with tiles.

‘The small bronze coins were of an ‘unofficial’ type,  like many that circulated during the troubled period of the second half of the 3rd century/early 4th century. Internal wars and conflict between contenders to the emperor’s throne, epidemics, the financial burdens of sustaining a large army, pressures at the borders of the Empire, economic crisis, and a host of other troubles meant the Empire was in crisis at this time.

‘The Roman State was no longer capable of fully ensuring the long-term control of the monetary system. Small bronze mintings of little value appeared, which specialists would call “necessity coins”.  The intent was not to deceive but to serve as spendable cash within the local economy. Though produced by private citizens, they were more or less tolerated by the State.’