부산대학교 도서관

Chapter 14 addresses a number of questions. What happened to the Roman monetary economy after AD 400 in northern Gaul? Gold and silver continued to play an important role but what about the use of small change? Did Roman bronze coins continue to circulate after AD 400 and for how long? And were old coins really re-introduced into circulation? This chapter focuses on the abundance of late Roman coins in fifth and sixth century (and later!) contexts and on the apparent occurrence, in the same region, of a fairly large number of deposits containing bronze coins only. On the basis of recent excavations in major Roman towns in the north of Gaul and contrary to what is often suggested, it will be argued that the use of small change declined rapidly when the Roman administration and the army left the northern provinces.