Monetization of Roman Egypt during the Flavian Dynasty (AD 69–96):the case of Alexandria and Berenike

Abstract

A study of coin output in Egypt during the Flavian dynasty (AD 69–96) brings to lighta dichotomy in circulation between billon tetradrachms and low denomination bronze coins. Thecomposition of hoards with Flavian silver issues suggests minimal coin production due to a sufficientquantity of Nero’s tertadrachms on the market. However, stray finds of coins from the Flaviandynasty consist mainly of bronze issues, apparently outnumbering Nero’s low-denomination coinoutput. A tempting idea to consider is that the low number of Flavian silver coins in circulationresulted in an extended production of bronze issues.

Keywords

• Roman provincial Egypt
• Alexandrian coinage
• Flavian dynasty For almost three centuries the economy of Roman Egypt was based on a relatively stable currency administered by the government. The boost in the provincial economy came with the widespread use of coins in commercial transactions (Harl 1996: 117). Nonetheless
• it is essential to distinguish the concept of economic prosperity of the province from the assets of local inhabitants
• half of whose income was collected in the form of taxes. Yet the process of monetization of Egypt did not proceed evenly. In Ptolemaic times some taxes were paid in coins
• while the