Using Local Coinage for Insights into Provincial Life and Society

In the urbanized, largely Greek-speaking cities of the eastern half of the Roman Empire, hundreds of towns issued their own small change, mostly in copper alloy. Small change was a big problem in the ancient world; imperial authorities went to great pains to ensure a supply of precious metal coins to pay the troops, but the needs of an urban economy, where people need to make daily small purchases to survive, were often neglected.

Numismatists (the people who study coins) call these low-value coins “Greek Imperial” or “Roman Provincial,” and since they are usually quite affordable, they have gained growing interest among collectors in recent years. Frankly, they are not much to look at. They are seldom great works of the engraver’s art, and they are rarely well-preserved. But they often depict local landmarks, myths and legends and many honor obscure members of the imperial family with portraits that are charmingly crude.

Cambridge University Press, in collaboration with the American Numismatic Society in New York, is publishing a series of handbooks called “Guides to the Coinage of the Ancient World.” Among numismatists there is a proverbial expression: “Buy the book before you buy the coin.” This lavishly illustrated (in color!) volume demonstrates the wisdom of that saying.

The book is organized chronologically in seven chapters:

1. “Precious Metal Coinages at Rome and in the Provinces”
2. “The Beginnings of an Empire in Italy and the Western Mediterranean”
3. “The Growth of an Empire during the Late Republic”
4. “Whose Coins? A Model for City Coinage in Imperial Times”
5. “The Revolution of Augustus - and Becoming More Roman in the First Century”
6. “Reinforcing Greek Identity in the Golden Age of the Second Century”
7. “‘From a Kingdom of gold to One of Iron and Rust’ in the Third Century”

Appendices include a comprehensive Numismatic Glossary, a summary of the denominations, and an explanation of how coins were produced.

The Roman Provinces will be an essential reference for classical numismatists, but will also be of interest to students of ancient economies.

The author, Andrew M. Burnett, (born 23 May 1952) is a British numismatist and museum curator. He was Deputy Director of the British Museum from 2003 to 2013, and Keeper of its Department of Coins and Medals from 1992 to 2003. He was president of the Royal Numismatic Society from 2013 to 2018.

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Our Reviewer: Mike Markowitz is an historian and wargame designer. He writes a monthly column for CoinWeek.Com and is a member of the ADBC (Association of Dedicated Byzantine Collectors). His previous reviews include The Last Viking: The True Story of King Harald Hardrada, Ancient Rome: Infographics, Byzantium and the Crusades, A Short History of the Byzantine Empire, Theoderic the Great, The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium, Battle for the Island Kingdom, Vandal Heaven, The Eternal Decline and Fall of Rome, Herod the Great: Jewish King in a Roman World, Caesar Rules: The Emperor in the Changing Roman World, Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen, Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint, Persians: The Age of the Great Kings, Polis: A New History of the Ancient Greek City-State, At the Gates of Rome: The Battle for a Dying Empire, Roman Emperors in Context, After 1177 B.C., Cyrus the Great, Barbarians and Romans: The Birth Struggle of Europe, A.D. 400–700, Crescent Dawn: The Rise of the Ottoman Empire and the Making of the Modern Age, and The Missing Thread: A New History of the Ancient World Through the Women Who Shaped It.

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Note: The Roman Provinces, 300 BCE–300 CE, is also available in hard cover and e-editions.

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