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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,253 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Here's as an interesting comparison between peppercorns and their value in Ancient times. Once affordable to only the wealthy, pepper was highly valued as a spice and described as "worth its weight in gold". Here I have pictured a Vespasian Aureus alongside an equivalent weight in pepper. Pepper's actual value was probably never this high, but it made an interesting image. Sadly, the pepper is mine, but not the aureus.  A few of you have a wealth of knowledge of ancient times, so please add anything you know on this subject.   Edited by DVCollector
10/05/2012 8:28 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
That is very interesting. It's hard to imagine in today's world what the spice market meant to the ancients.
Note: You can keep your pepper DVC and I'll take the aureus.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
According to the Roman geographer Strabo, the early Empire sent a fleet of around 120 ships on an annual one-year trip to China, Southeast Asia, India and back to procure pepper. Black pepper was a well-known and widespread, if expensive, seasoning in the Roman Empire. Apicius' De re coquinaria, a 3rd-century cookbook probably based at least partly on one from the 1st century CE, includes pepper in a majority of its recipes. Roman historians noted that Attila the Hun included 3000 pounds of pepper as part of his ransom demands from the citizens of Rome.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Nice peppercorns.
Spices are the main reason why Roman gold coins are found in India.
I have an aureus of Vespasian, but only in about fine condition.
I suppect that the coin pictured never travelled to India, but perhaps mine did, as evidenced by the wear.
Reverse legends are relatively common with the silver and gold of Vespasian.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10045 Posts |
I've also heard of Rome's expeditions to procure pepper from Asia, as well as Atilla's ransom demand--thanks for the corroboration! In one of those time-travel fantasies of mine--I travel back to Rome/Greece with sacks of spices and rock salt that I trade for coins!  |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Interesting comparison, I guess the only thing that would come close to that now a days is the price of Truffles.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Saffron is another spice that is still high--although currently less than the price of gold/ounce.
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Valued Member
United States
234 Posts |
Thats a cool fact got any more?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
573 Posts |
Pepper and other spices were important because they would cover up the taste of food that was turning bad. Salt, on the other hand, was used to preserve food. It was such an important object that Roman soldiers used to get paid in salt. This pay was called salarium or salt payment, from which we get the word salary.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I've also heard the "spoiled food" explanation for pepper, but historians have also noted that pepper was strictly a commodity of the wealthy, who probably could always afford fresh food. Salarium is a great story as well--I'd love to trade bags of rock salt for ancient coins.  Edited by DVCollector
10/05/2012 10:40 pm
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
chrsmat71 => yah ummmm, I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure that you could bake this chain/neclace thingy and make it into a wondreful "blue" colored pie thang? => c'mon man ... I know that you can do this!!  |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,253 |
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Posted 10/05/2012 8:36 pm
