Парична стойност на монетите в обращение в периода 498-681 г., на територията на ранновизантийската провинция Втора Мизия

Monetary value of circulation coins AD 498–681 over the territory of the Early Byzantine province of Moesia Secunda

Abstract

This research is based on 4485 specimens, minted during the period 498 – 681 AD, which were found on the territory of Moesia Secunda and 19 denominations of gold, silver and bronze were identified. Of the total number the gold coins are 6%, silver coins are 0,3%, and the bronze ones are 94%. Therefore, in terms of quantity, the latter group dominates.
In modern science, there is sufficient knowledge of the relationship between the various denominations during the Early Byzantine period and the changes made over time (Tab. 1). In the paper there is a calculation of the monetary equivalent of the coins found on the investigated territory for the period 498 – 681 AD. The results show that the monetary value of all the coins combined is 189,995 solidi. The monetary value of gold and silver specimens amounted up to 95% and the bronze ones to only 5% (Tab. 2). There is a complete contrast between the number and the monetary value of the coins in circulation.
Data from the Early Byzantine collective coin finds from the Balkans and Asia Minor allows such a calculation of the monetary value to be made (Morrisson et al. 2006, 43-53). The result shows that the monetary value of the gold and silver coins is 98.8% and the monetary value of the bronze ones is 1.2% (Tab. 5).
The results obtained show that the characteristic of money circulation in the Moesia Secunda (and also in Byzantium) was determined primarily by the gold coins. Bronze coins had only an auxiliary economic and financial role. Their small monetary value does not give us reasons to make economic analyses only on their basis. But bronze coins can be used to chronologically analyze a given settlement or territory during the Early Byzantine period (V – VII AD).