The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

ROMAN GOLD COINS FOUND AT CORBRIDGE. 267The ten aurei of Nero all fall within the last five yearsof his reign (64-68 A.D.),and are subsequent to thereduction of the gold standard effected in 64. In thatyear the ratio of the aureus to the pound weight wasreduced from forty to fifty-five, this being equivalent toa reduction from S'175 to 7*266 grammes per coin.Thefour aurei of Marcus date from within the reign of Pius,the latest of his coins belonging to the eleventh year ofhis tribunician power (157 A.D.).The latest of the coinsof Pius belongs to the twenty- second year of his tribunicianpower (159-160 A.D.). The seven coins ofFaustina the Elder are not easily datable; one wasstruck in her lifetime (137-140), while the other six are" " consecration coins. On six out of the seven coins theempress is shown in diademed coiffure ; only on one ofthe consecration coins is her head veiled. The date ofchange in coiffure on the coins of this empress cannot beaccurately determined, but is not later than 156-157 A.D.,the veiled bust being found on Alexandrian coins of thatyear (twentieth year of Pius).Thus, whether the coin-series of Pius, of Marcus, or ofFaustina be taken, the termination of the series is foundto be not earlier, and very little later, than 159 A.D.There was a comparatively small output of gold coinagein the last eighteen months of Pius (160-161); consequentlythe money might have been deposited in 160minted inor 161 and yet failed to include any moneyYet, when one takes into consideration thethose years.probable rapidity with which gold circulated, and thefact that the coin series of Faustina and of Marcus-close before that of Pius, it seems improbable thatthe deposit is later than 161, and itmay thereforebe provisionally assigned to the years 160-162 A.D.