We can’t talk about the history of gold without taking time to explore the Romans. It’s rare to watch a movie set in Roman times without seeing glorious warriors’ outfits made from gold or watching the exchange of gold coins. But have the movies got it right? Was gold really used that often in Roman times? The answer is yes. The Romans loved gold, and they recognised its value, not just as something beautiful, but as a global commodity. Roman currency – the aureus It was for this reason that the Romans became one of the first civilisations to use gold as a form of currency. The golden coin was called aureus. It became an official monetary unit in AD 312 under Constantine’s reform. So, what could I buy with one aureus? Our research tells us that one aureus was equal to around one month of a soldier’s wage – or 400 litres of wine! Of course, the aureus is worth much more today. Recently, a single gold aureus sold for $15,000 at auction. However, some go for much more, depending on the picture on the coin. A rare commemorative aureus, which showed the Colosseum on one face, sold for $920,000 at auction through Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers (Lot 42 – The Millennia Collection). Gold in battle The movies may have lied to us when it comes to Roman armour. Although the Romans commonly wore plate armour, this was usually made from iron, with only the high-ranking officers having ornamental chest plates – and these were made from bronze. Perhaps a few wore gold, but it’s certainly not as common as the films would have us believe! However, a number of legionary decorations (awards for conduct in battle) were made from gold. For example, the Gold Crown – or ‘Corona Aurea’ – was a decoration awarded for killing an enemy in single combat and holding the ground to the end of the battle. These were often designed to look like a golden ring of leaves that would be worn as a crown. Other golden legionary decorations include the Corona Vallaris and the Corona Muralis. Roman jewellery The middle and lower classes of the Roman Empire would have worn jewellery made from bronze and coloured glass. However, the wealthy would have worn pieces made of silver and gold. These items were particularly precious to Roman women, as they could use them as their own form of currency, independent of their husband’s earnings. Sculpture Much of Roman metallurgy revolved around iron and bronze. However, when it came to sculpture, sometimes a bronze figure would be enhanced with gold leaves, such as a life-size sculpture of Augustus and his horse that used to sit in the marketplace of the ancient settlement of Waldgirmes. You can still see the horse’s head – which is all that remains of the sculpture – on display at Saalburg Roman Fort, just north of Frankfurt. Gold in the modern era The Romans knew the potential of gold long before the rest of the world – for decoration, jewellery, art, and currency. Today, gold holds equal status as it did back then. Visit my Karatbars store for more information on how gold can be a part of your life today.
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AuthorPhilip Speed is a lover of all things gold, from its history and place in myth to its role in our modern economy. As a representative of Karatbars, he knows why you should be saving in gold. ArchivesCategories |