Avenches – Roman Museum – Permanent Exhibition
Avenches – Roman Museum – Permanent Exhibition Avenches – Roman Museum – Permanent Exhibition
First Floor Trade and Money Genuine Coins and Counterfeits The Augustan monetary system was quite stable and was still used well into the 3rd century. During the first two centuries, slight reductions in weight and precious metal content brought about some minor changes. The accelerating devaluation from the late 2nd century onwards prompted Caracalla in AD 214 to introduce the antoninianus, a new coin, which was worth two denarii. With increasing inflation the antoninianus rapidly lost its value in the 3rd century and, under Claudius II the Goth (AD 268 – 270), it contained little more than 2% silver. A series of antoniniani reflect this evolution (display case 15, nos. 9-12). The emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 270 – 275) tried to slow down devaluation by creating a new antoninianus (display case 15, no. 13). However, this monetary reform was not successful and Diocletian (AD 284 – 305) introduced fundamental changes. The new system (display case 15, no. 14) remained in use for several centuries but also suffered devaluation (see 4th century AD coins (display case 25, nos. 20-39). Prices and Remuneration Not many written documents contain information on prices and salaries in Roman times and only a very small number refer to the regions situated within the present-day Swiss borders. However, in Pompeii, which was totally destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, graffiti found on house walls do give some indication of prices (display case 15, nos. 15-20): Food oil 1/3 litre 1 sesterce bread (small) 1/2 kg ¼ sesterce = 1 as (display case 15, no. 15) table wine 1 measure ¼ sesterce = 1 as wine from Falerne 1 measure 1 sesterce Pottery oil lamp ½ sesterce = 2 as (display case 15, nos. 16-18) a simple plate ¼ sesterce = 1 as small drinking vessel ¼ sesterce = 1 as (display case 15, nos. 19-20) Clothes tunic 15 sesterces washing of tunic 4 sesterces Miscellaneous mule 520 sesterces slave 2524 sesterces Genuine Coins and Counterfeits The value of a coin was guaranteed by the portrait and the name of the emperor on it. Imperial money was personified in MONETA AVGVSTA (the imperial coin) who 1 Aureus of Hadrian 31 First Floor 15
First Floor Trade and Money Money Saving and Spending Reflected in Coin Finds was depicted with scales, symbolising both the imperial power and the concern to exercise a rigorous control over monetary value (display case 15, no. 21). An extraordinary find during the excavations of the temple at Derrière la Tour in 1996 was a coin balance with a predetermined weight (display case 15, no. 22), which confirmed that the weight of coins was monitored in Avenches itself. By means of such a balance, denarii that were too light could be identified and subsequently withdrawn from circulation. However, it was impossible with these scales to distinguish a good silver denarius (display case 15, nos. 23-24) from a counterfeit denarius made of silver-plated copper (display case 15, nos. 25-26) or from a cast denarius with far too little silver content (display case 15, no. 27). After all, these types of counterfeits could indeed have the official weight. Like everywhere within the Roman Provinces, numerous counterfeit denarii were in circulation in Avenches. There were even counterfeits that contained no precious metals at all, such as copper-plated iron coins (display case 15, nos. 28-29). Money Saving and Spending Reflected in Coin Finds Just like people nowadays, the inhabitants of a Roman town would have used their money in various ways. They would have had to spend money on their everyday needs such as food, household utensils or clothes; those who could afford to tried to save money. The most frequent coin finds during excavations are those made of copper, brass or bronze (display case 15, nos. 30-36). They reflect the daily monetary exchange. Together with other archaeological finds, these often badly corroded coins offer precious information, for instance, for the purpose of dating a layer. However, archaeologists are sometimes lucky enough to find a coin hoard (display case 15, no. 43), a collection of coins, which are still in a purse (display case 15, nos. 37-42), or a moneybox (display case 15, no. 44). Display case 15 1. The monetary system of the Roman Empire from the 1st – 3rd centuries AD. 2. Aureus, gold, Augustus (27 BC – AD 14) (1). 3. Denarius, silver, Antoninus Pius (AD 141 – 161), for his wife Faustina the Elder. 4. Sestertius, brass, Marcus Aurelius (AD 161 – 180), for the deified Faustina the Younger. 5. Dupondius, brass, Domitian (AD 81 – 96). 6. As, copper, Augustus (27 BC – AD 14), for Tiberius 7. Semis, brass, Augustus (27 BC – AD 14), for Tiberius. 8. Quadrans, copper, Domitian (AD 81 – 96). 9. Antoninianus, Gordianus III (AD 238 – 244). 10. Antoninianus, Valerian I (AD 253 – 260). 11. Antoninianus, Claudius II the Gothic (AD 268 – 270). 1 Aureus of Augustus 32 First Floor 15
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- Page 47 and 48: Second Floor Clothes and Jewellery
- Page 49 and 50: Second Floor Body and Health Care A
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First Floor Trade and Money<br />
Genuine Coins and Counterfeits<br />
The Augustan monetary system was quite stable and was still used well into the<br />
3rd century. During the first two centuries, slight reductions in weight and precious<br />
metal content brought about some minor changes. The accelerating devaluation<br />
from the late 2nd century onwards prompted Caracalla in AD 214 to introduce the<br />
antoninianus, a new coin, which was worth two denarii. With increasing inflation the<br />
antoninianus rapidly lost its value in the 3rd century and, under Claudius II the Goth<br />
(AD 268 <strong>–</strong> 270), it contained little more than 2% silver. A series of antoniniani reflect<br />
this evolution (display case 15, nos. 9-12).<br />
The emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 270 <strong>–</strong> 275) tried to slow down devaluation by<br />
creating a new antoninianus (display case 15, no. 13). However, this monetary reform<br />
was not successful and Diocletian (AD 284 <strong>–</strong> 305) introduced fundamental changes.<br />
The new system (display case 15, no. 14) remained in use for several centuries but<br />
also suffered devaluation (see 4th century AD coins (display case 25, nos. 20-39).<br />
Prices and Remuneration<br />
Not many written documents contain information on prices and salaries in <strong>Roman</strong><br />
times and only a very small number refer to the regions situated within the<br />
present-day Swiss borders. However, in Pompeii, which was totally destroyed by the<br />
eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, graffiti found on house walls do give some<br />
indication of prices (display case 15, nos. 15-20):<br />
Food<br />
oil 1/3 litre 1 sesterce<br />
bread (small) 1/2 kg ¼ sesterce = 1 as (display case 15, no. 15)<br />
table wine 1 measure ¼ sesterce = 1 as<br />
wine from Falerne 1 measure 1 sesterce<br />
Pottery<br />
oil lamp ½ sesterce = 2 as (display case 15, nos. 16-18)<br />
a simple plate ¼ sesterce = 1 as<br />
small drinking vessel ¼ sesterce = 1 as (display case 15, nos. 19-20)<br />
Clothes<br />
tunic 15 sesterces<br />
washing of tunic 4 sesterces<br />
Miscellaneous<br />
mule 520 sesterces<br />
slave 2524 sesterces<br />
Genuine Coins and Counterfeits<br />
The value of a coin was guaranteed by the portrait and the name of the emperor<br />
on it. Imperial money was personified in MONETA AVGVSTA (the imperial coin) who<br />
1<br />
Aureus of Hadrian<br />
31<br />
First Floor<br />
15
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