Mетрични параметри и номинали на сердикийските провинциални монети
Metric Parameters and Denominations of Serdica’s Provincial Coins

Summary/Abstract: The provincial coinage minting of Serdica took place in the period between 161 and 268 AD. During these one hundred and seven years, the city emitted coins for six emperors and the members of their families.The purpose of this study is to find out how many and what denominations Serdica’s mint emitted for each of them.The analysis shows that the highest metric parameters of Serdica’s coins are observed during the joint reign of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.After the first hiatus in the city’s coinage production which lasted a quarter century, minting activity resumed in 195 AD and continued until 201 AD. The metric parameters of the coins emitted during this period (compared to the parameters of the coins from the previous period) were reduced.After the second hiatus which lasted from 201 AD until the death of Septimius Severus on February 4th, 211 AD, the activity of Serdica’s mint was restored for about a year. The coins issued during this short period for the two brothers and co-emperors, Caracalla and Geta, do not differ signifi-cantly from the earlier coins emitted for them and their parents.The assassination of Geta (December 26th, 211 AD) was followed by the five-year long independent rule of Caracalla (212–217 AD). During this period, Serdica issued coins for Julia Domna and Caracalla. The metric parameters of these coins are slightly higher compared to those of the previous family issues, and are close to the parameters of the coins emitted for Marcus Aurelius, Faustina the Younger, and Lucius Verus. Thiscircumstance implies the hypothesis of certain stabilization of the economic climate in the city.During Gallienus’ independent rule, Serdica’s provincial coinage production was restored, al-beit briefly. The coins issued for Gallienus and his wife Salonina differ significantly in their composi-tion from the ones issued for the previous imperial families. These last provincial coins exhibit re-duced parameters, coarse workmanship and more schematic images. The coin cores are smaller in di-ameter but significantly thicker than the previous ones.With the issuing of this last group of coins, the provincial coinage of Serdica was dismantled and the city’s mint was transformed from a provincial mint into a branch of the central Roman mint, thereby losing its local privileges.

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