Circulation of Provincial Coins of the Viminacium Colony

Abstract

The provincial mint in Viminacium, despite its short period in operation (239-254/255 AD), is significant for numismatic and historical research in several aspects. From the very start, it is distinctive for its large monetary production and broad circulatory coverage. The founding of the mint in Viminacium was the official way to temporarily solve problems in the functioning of the Empire’s monetary system. On the basis of registered finds of Viminacium provincial coinage, it is obvious that its circulation in neighbouring and western provinces was much higher than in eastern ones. A considerable number of these issues has also been registered in the area of the Barbaricum. Because of precise chronological data, this currency is among the most reliable sources for researching the history of the mid-3rd century, when the Danubian and Balkan provinces were the main theatre of battle for the survival of a part of the Roman Empire.