The Denarii of Septimius Severus and the Mobility of Roman Coin: The Case of Roman Germany

In 2001, Duncan-Jones revised Howgego's work on the mobility of Septimius Severus' Eastern denarii. Duncan-Jones interpreted their increased presence in hoards from Roman Britain as an expression of Gresham's Law, Howgego as the manifestation of some sort of supply/arrival. In the present article another study-region has been selected in order to provide new results for comparison. Septimius' Eastern denarii struck between AD 193 and 196/7 are assessed from hoards found in Roman Germany, and produce a radically different pattern. Several explanations are suggested. Whatever the true explanation, we are left with the impression of a unified monetary system with significant regional variations.