| Roman Currency | |
| Income and Costs |  |
| Even ancient Romans had to worry about inflation. Rapid inflation in the third century AD caused the emperor Diocletian to fix prices and wages. Here are some examples. | |
| Wages | What did it cost? |
|
Farm laborer, with meals = 25 denarii Painter of walls, with meals = 75 denarii Painter of pictures, with meals = 160 denarii Camel driver or donkey driver = 25 denarii Barber, per man = 2 denarii Sewer cleaner, full day's work = 25 denarii Elementary teacher, per boy, monthly = 50 denarii Grammaticus (Greek or Latin language and literature, geometry), per student, monthly = 200 denarii Bath attendant, per bather = 2 denarii |
half-liter of Falernian (best quality) wine = 30 denarii
half-liter of beer = 4 denarii 4 pounds of dessert grapes = 4 denarii 1 army measure of meat = 100 denarii 1 army measure of beans = 100 denarii fresh olive oil, about 1 pint = 40 denarii honey, best quality, about 1 pint = 40 denarii 1 pound of pork = 12 denarii 1 pound of beef = 8 denarii freshwater fish = 8 denarii farm worker's boots = 120 denarii shoes, senatorial = 100 denarii woman's boots = 60 denarii 1 pound of white silk = 12,00 denarii 1 pound of genuine purple silk = 150,000 denarii |
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If you had lived in ancient Rome, you might have done your shopping here, in Trajan's Market. |  |
-- J. Walsh, 2001
| Copyright © 2008, KET |