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Journal article

Tracing Dacian gold in Roman aurei

Abstract:
Here the LA-ICP-MS results from 66 Roman gold coins (aurei) issued between AD 101 and AD 196 are presented. Aurei issued between AD 129 and AD 165 seemed to have been made from an antimony- and tellurium-rich gold. The Roman gold mines at Roșia Montană in Dacia, modern day Romania, produce antimony- and tellurium-rich gold, and we have precisely dated documentary evidence that suggests intensive mining activity occurred here from at least AD 131 until AD 167. The intensity of the proposed antimony- and tellurium-rich Roșia Montană ‘fingerprint’ in Roman gold coinage almost perfectly matches the chronological window of intensive exploitation of the Roșia Montană gold source. As such, gold from Dacia appears to have been one of the most dominant sources for the Roman supply network in the mid-second century, and the strategic importance of the province at this time should not be underestimated.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103128

Authors

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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
GLAM
Department:
Ashmolean Museum
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-8181-8012



Publisher:
Elsevier
Journal:
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports More from this journal
Volume:
39
Article number:
103128
Publication date:
2021-08-11
Acceptance date:
2021-07-18
DOI:
EISSN:
2352-4103
ISSN:
2352-409X


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1192841
Local pid:
pubs:1192841
Deposit date:
2023-09-21
ARK identifier:

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