Rome's conquests gave her access to the accumulated metal resources of most of the known world. An abundant gold and silver coinage circulated within her empire as a result. But coinage changes later suggest difficulty in maintaining metal supplies. By studying Roman coin-survivals in a wider context, Dr Duncan-Jones uncovers important facts about the origin of coin hoards of the Principate. He constructs a new profile of minting, financial policy and monetary circulation, by analysing extensive coin evidence collected for the first time. His findings considerably advance our knowledge of crucial areas of the Roman economy.

‘Duncan-Jones has written an important and stimulating book, which seeks to use numismatic evidence to study minting policy, monetary organisation, and the monetary economy … No serious scholar will want to analyse coin hoards, or to consider monetary history, without looking to see what Duncan-Jones has done.’

Source: The Journal of Roman Studies

‘Duncan-Jones has written an important and chellenging book that deserves to be widely read.’

Source: Bryn Mawr Classical Review

‘It is fair to say that this is the magnum opus we have been awaiting; and that it crystallizes the author’s approach to numismatic evidence, for which we have had to be content with tantalizing hints in his prior work.’

Source: Revue Suisse de Numismatique

‘This book will be an essential reference work for Roman historians and numismatics and will also be of interest to economic historians.’

Source: Coins and Antiques