| Rome is believed to be dated as far back as 753 B.C, | | | | literally as money. |
| though it was initially a very small town which built itself | | | | With the growth of the Empire, Rome acquired more |
| as an empire over time. Their use of gold grants them | | | | control over the gold production from the surrounding |
| a special place as far as the history goes. The rapid | | | | areas as well. The Egyptian conquest gave them |
| growth of the Roman Empire after 300 B.C. can be | | | | control over gold from Africa. Mining was rigorously in |
| related directly with the increase in the supply of gold | | | | process in Spain; towards Eastern Europe, they |
| to their capital. This dramatic supply reached as high as | | | | overtook Romania in lure of the gold mines, and this |
| ten tonnes. The use of gold as a metal was not as | | | | was the main reason for planning a conquest towards |
| much in jewellery as it was in the craftsmanship of | | | | Britain. Britain was believed to be a metal rich country |
| gold coins; in fact, it was the Romans who brought | | | | and though gold by itself might not be in abundance, it |
| about a most widespread use of gold coins throughout | | | | was there if mined in areas like Dolaucothi and |
| the west. Gold coins can still be found all across | | | | Carmarthenshire. |
| Europe as archaeologists have dug up quite a few as | | | | Towards the fall of the Roman Empire the gold |
| evidence. | | | | supplies were also running low. A smaller coin was |
| The fact that gold was abundant enough to be used in | | | | introduced and the original gold coins were not as |
| coins sheds a significant amount of light on the | | | | abundantly used. The money used to build and |
| strength and power of the Roman Empire. Copper | | | | decorate churches was now used to build a better |
| and silver coins were used for purchases in small | | | | economy. The increasing rate of inflation was alarming. |
| amounts. Though gold coins were used before in the | | | | Once the conquests stopped altogether, the gold |
| western Turkey and Greece during the time of | | | | coming from different regions also decreased |
| Alexander the Great as well but only in emergency | | | | considerably. Gold coins were not produced in great |
| situations. After the death of Emperor Augustus, gold | | | | quantities as before, and therefore, they lost their |
| coins were fashioned with his head as a crest, and | | | | original value. Gold prices also hiked up, and this put an |
| were used regularly. | | | | end to the coin production altogether. It came down to |
| These coins were used in paying the wages of the | | | | exchanging food and eatables for services and |
| soldiers. The excavations show that they were used | | | | purchases. The fall of the Roman Empire finally came |
| by well-to-do citizens as well. They were also used as | | | | around in AD 476. A most impressive collection of the |
| savings, and for the first time, gold was not used for | | | | roman coins and jewelery is on display at the British |
| jewelery, adornments, or for show of stature but, | | | | museum. |