Trade and Money @museum.de

Many everyday items, especially those associated with an elevated or luxurious standard of living, had to be imported. A well-developed transport network was essential for lively and smooth trade.

The most common means of transport was a wagon pulled by a team of oxen. Larger quantities of goods, on the other hand, were transported by water wherever possible.

In addition to foodstuffs such as oil, wine, fish sauce, fish, dates, figs, raisins, oysters, and spices, trade goods also included metal, glass, and terra sigillata tableware. Liquid foodstuffs were usually shipped in amphorae. Inscriptions on the necks of the amphorae provided information about the contents, empty and full weight, producer, dealer, and recipient.

Other goods that were imported included metals and precious metals, amber, and textiles such as wool, linen, and flax, as well as fragrances such as incense and myrrh. Luxury products included silk from China, cotton, pepper, and rice from India, and precious stones from Somalia.

The value of coins was determined by their metal content, which was supposed to remain constant, at least officially. In reality, however, the difference between the material value and the face value grew steadily larger. As early as ancient times, repeated attempts were made to stabilize the value of coins after periods of political and economic uncertainty.

To remedy the regional coin shortage, some settlements more or less officially minted or coined money that looked like good silver coins but was actually made of cheap bronze. Whether these were deliberate counterfeits or substitute money produced out of necessity remains unclear.