The Silver Coinage of the Macedonian Regions
Ilya S. Prokopov
The coinage with the name of the Macedonian regions ranks second after what has been known as mass silver coinages on the Balkans in the period 2nd - 1st century BC. With its about 200 obverse and 680 reverse registered dies (including imitations), it ranges with the coinage periods during which the real change of the financial system in Thrace took place in the transition from late Hellenism to the Roman age. Initiated as a regular coinage in the regions of the last Macedonian Kingdom, it was finalized by the Roman administrators in the Province of Macedonia. The silver coins of the Macedonian regions can be hardly found on the territory of Macedonia. They were highly concentrated to the north and northwest of Thrace. This was the money paid to Thracian notables for their efficient military units which were then directed far from Thrace. Thus, the local Thracian chieftains gave up their sovereignty in return for material and financial security provided to them by Rome.
To accomplish their goal, the Romans must have invested in this coinage about 35 tonnes of silver particularly for this coinage - a good price for their comfort. However, we should not forget that this was not the money of Roman citizens but resources belonging to the already conquered nations and their lands.
 |
Ilya S. Prokopov.
|
|
| _____________________________________________________________________________ | ||
