Denarii flati

A general analysis is made of cast copies of denarii discovered on the territory of the Roman Empire and the European Barbaricum, with a proposed new Latin term — denarii flati. Despite significant differences in the status of the research within the Empire and beyond the limes, we identified some similarities and differences in the technology and chronology of production of denarii flati, the reasons for this production, and possible uses of these coins. While in the Roman Empire the phenomenon may date to as early as the second half of the second century, and was in full swing in the 230s–260s, in most areas of the Barbaricum denarii flati start at the earliest around the mid-third century–its second half, and peak in the late third century, possibly around ad 300. The production technologies used on two sides of the limes were also different: within the Empire the predominant method was casting in individual clay moulds, as opposed to the coin tree method used in barbarian territories. Nevertheless, the reason for this production was the same: to remedy the shortage of original coins. Both within the Roman Empire and the Barbaricum counterfeiters tried hard to make coins as close in appearance to the originals, adjusting the composition of the alloy and producing high-quality workmanship. Unlike in the Roman Empire some of the denarii flati were made of high-quality silver rather than base metal alloy, a production presumably initiated by the barbarian elites. Last of all, there is evidence that the necessary know-how may have spread to the Barbaricum from the territory of the Roman Empire.