BÍRÓ-SEY KATALIN: COINS FROM IDENTIFIED SITES OF BRIGETIO AND THE QUESTION OF LOCAL CURRENCY / Régészeti Füzetek II/18. (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum Budapest, 1977)
I. INTRODUCTION
The next period after the death of Valentinian is represented by the coins of Valentinian II ( 80/2l 72- 2l8o) , Theodosius I ( 80/2I8I-22o8 ), Arcadius ( 8l/22o92223), Magnus Maximus ( 81 /22242225), and Honorius ( 81 /2226-2227) in great numbers, representing 2,8% of the scattered coins. This is an especially high ratio, when we compare this with the Veszprém find where from the 6, 82o identified coins only o, o2% dates after the 375 A. D. period. There are 18 more such coins over these listed ones from this period, which due to their bad condition cannot be attached to any emperor, but on the basis of the reverse types they can be dated to end of the 4th and beginning of the 5th century A. D. Although the number of coins decreased, compared to the number during the time of Valentinian, we still can count with a yearly average of 3 between 375 and 395 A. D. We could classify only such coins for the period of 395 to 4o8 A. D. where only the reverse types or the identifiable emperors gave an indication that they were struck at this time, since no mint marks could be distinguished. Such coins were classified for the years 4o8 to 423 A. D. , except for two coins of Honorius (LRBC 1114/ 81 /2227-2228) with AQP marks, which can also be classified for this period, within rather broad limits. 8 0 We can only state the same with safety which the previous Pannonian finds have shown, that even if to a limited degree but there had been an influx of currency into the province until 395 A.D. also. 8 1 8 2 We have another find from Brigetio also from the same period (Find No. VIII, Fig. XIII) which shows a connection with the Veszprem find, because coins from the end of the fourth century A.D. even happen to be included in it. As far as the frequency of the secont and third century A.D. coins are concerned there is a similarity with Find No. VII also. It gives an almost continuous picture with only short breaks from the middle of the third century A.D. A continuity can be observed from the year 3io A.D. as far as the frequency is concerned. From 33o to the end of the 340s there is a great culmination in the number of coins when the currency decreases, just like in the case of Find. No. VI and No. VII and in the scattered material as well. Another great peak shows at the end of the 350s with the end of the rule of Constantius II. The yearly average of the find is over eighty. The graph, prepared according to RIC, shows a peak in currency durung the period of Valentinian. There is a decreasing tendency during the second period. As we have seen, the Siscian coins between 371 and 375 A.D. became scarcer among the scattered material, or rather there are no coins from this mint between the years 372 and 374 A.D. The continuity of these coins does not suffer a break in this find, although the number of coins is very little from the critical years. R F Thus Valentinian's (l69/2ol9 - 2o23 ) Q K / and P/K date to 372 A.D., then A / to 374 A.D., and (l69/2o25-2o3o) with a variation of the 8 mark date to 372 A.D. Valens has a coin R/K Q ( 171/2292) from 373 A. D. , and two centenionalis (1 7V2293-2294) with R/R F mark from 374 A. D. , then coins with ? mark ( l7 i ,/22952298) from the following year. Gratian has no coin of 373 A. D. There is not a single coins from the scattered material for the year 373 A. D. , although one coin of Valentinian of Find No. VIII represents this year. The high yearly average for the years 375 to 395 A. D. is expressed here also, just as with the scattered coins. In the knowledge of other late Roman finds this seems to be a specialty of Brigetio. The coins after 375 A. D. represent 1,3% of the find, coins of Valentinian, Valens and Gratian represent 24,2%. 16
