An Empire at War: Economic Disparities in the Roman Empire 260-275 CE
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Level 4 by design analogy (historical comparative analysis of numismatic and metallurgical data).
What was done
The author examined whether monetary debasement of the Roman antoninianus was uniform across imperial branch mints during the crisis years of 260–275 CE. The study re-evaluated published metallurgical data on coin weight and silver content (analysed by King and Northover) from the mints at Cyzicus, Mediolanum, and Rome, directly evaluating earlier claims by Philip Tyler that mints produced coins of unequal silver standards for different regions.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical measurements, sample counts, or statistical values. It states qualitatively that evidence from Cyzicus, Mediolanum, and Rome supports a policy of uniform debasement across imperial mints, arguing against Tyler's conclusion that the Rome mint produced two distinct standards directed differentially to eastern and western provinces.
Why it matters
The findings indicate that despite severe political fragmentation and military pressure during the third-century crisis, the imperial Roman administration maintained centralized coordination over monetary policy across regional mints.
Limits
The abstract provides no sample sizes, specific silver percentages, or coin weights. The study relies on secondary metallurgical datasets from King and Northover and restricts its comparative mint analysis to three locations.
Cited by
- supports During the Crisis of the Third Century, Emperor Aurelian reunited the fractured Roman Empire within a span of 5 years.
- supports During the Crisis of the Third Century, the Roman Empire fractured into three distinct competing entities.