The function of gold coinage in the monetary economy of the Roman Empire

The chapter tries to assess, on the basis of the literary and juristic evidence and of the evidence of coin finds, the role that gold coinage played in the economy of the Roman empire, starting from the epoch-making introduction of a regular issuing of gold coins till the age of Constantine.

Nel saggio si esamina, sulla base della documentazione letteraria e giuridica e sulla base della documentazione numismatica il ruolo anche quantitativo che la moneta d’oro ha potuto giocare nell’economia dell’impero romano a partire dall’epocale avvio di una regolare monetazione in questo metallo e sino all’età costantiniana. The chapter tries to assess, on the basis of the literary and juristic evidence and of the evidence of coin finds, the role that gold coinage played in the economy of the Roman empire, starting from the epoch-making introduction of a regular issuing of gold coins till the age of Constantine.