Notae Numismaticae - Zapiski Numizmatyczne (11.2016)

THE FRONTIERS IN DUTCH COIN RESEARCH...

* Iron Age coins first appear in the southeast of the province North-Brabant
and in Limburg. This roughly coincides with the southeast part of the Netherlands.
These areas appear to have been better connected to the morę developed south
(Belgium and beyond, where coin use was already morę common).
* In the central part of the Netherlands, Iron Age coins were in use mainly
from 54 BC onwards, especially by the Batavians, a tribe friendly to Romę which
had been settled here by the Romans and which had formerly been a part of
the tribe of the Chatti in Germania. The Batavians already knew the concept
of coins, and Roman influence is apparent.
* After the end of the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BC-AD 14), Iron Age
coins were hardly in use anymore.27
* Roman Republican coins were imported mainly from 19 BC onwards. From
this moment, Roman interest in the area intensifies.
* Republican coins were in use until well into the lst century AD. Thereafter
the number of finds decreases.
The difference in the spread of Iron Age coins compared to Roman Republican
issues is interesting. The maps reveal different types of coin use, even at times
where it is possible that the coins were in use simultaneously. Apparently, the area
underwent rapid change under the influence of Romę. Around the beginning of
the new millennium, coin loss (and subseąuently coin use) increases quickly
in the Netherlands. Coins of Emperor Augustus are found throughout the whole
of the country (though we have to keep in mind that some of these coins will have
been deposited after AD 14).
The distribution of coins from the Roman Republic morę closely matches
that of coins of the Roman Empire than of Iron Age coins. Probably almost every
Republican coin was brought into the area by the Roman legions. In the years 19-
16 BC, Roman attention to the research area started to intensify. This would have
caused a large initial influx of Roman coins, mainly to pay the soldiers. Most coins
would have arrived during the period of the Roman Empire. Hoards indicate that
coins from the Roman Republic were virtually absent before the start of Emperor
Augustus’ reign in 27 BC. Unfortunately, only a few hoards are known, all smali
in size. This makes it difficult to interpret the coin data, especially when separated
from its broader archaeological context. After the coins entered circulation,
they could have been in use for many decades.

27 AARTS 2000: 40.