SILVER

The "SILVER" project will study the composition of silver coins from the ancient worlds (Greek and Roman) up to 250 AD thanks to very advanced technologies used daily by geochemists. The questions raised are those of the origin of money and the link between economic development and the circulation of silver coins and objects of worship.

At the time, money was the foundation of the current economy: it was used to pay salaries and balances, as well as for ordinary transactions. Gold was too rare to be really useful for the payment needs of the population. As for copper as it was used for small change, in the Egypt of the Ptolemies for example, it was of such little value that people were forced to mint heavy coins. In addition, copper money competed with the demand for bronze used for weapons. It is therefore through money that wealth circulated and it is the study of this circulation that is the subject of this project.

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