/biz/ - Business & Finance

Could you afford to buy slave cunny in ancient Rome anon?

211 BC Introduction 4.55 g 95–98%
200 BC Debasement 3.9 g 95–98%
64–68 Debasement 3.41 g 93.5%
148–161 Debasement 3.41 g 83.5%

>According to Pliny, it was established that the denarius should be given in exchange for ten pounds of bronze, the quinarius for five pounds, and the sestertius for two-and-a-half.

1 silver denarius = 4 sestertii

>After a victorious military campaign, in which many slaves were captured, the price was naturally low due to the multitude of goods. Plautus (c. 250 BCE – 184 BCE) mentions that the conservative Cato the Elder was willing to pay between 500 [60oz] and 1500 denarii [179oz] for a slave.

>Cato also complained a lot about the approach of the lavish, wealthy Romans, who offered up to 2,500 denarii [298oz] for a beautiful boy or girl. Hence, also called the Censor because of his office, he ordered a high tax on the luxuries of the mighty under his magistrate. According to Plautus, the two captive children and their guardians cost from 2,000 [239oz] to 6,000 denarii [715oz], while the girl familiar with music cost 4,000 denarii [477oz]. Two centuries later, these prices were probably lower. A trained vineyard worker in Augustus’ day cost 2,000 denarii [239oz].

>During the time of the Empire, the price was usually 1200-1500 sesterces [28oz - 45oz], and Horace (65-8 BC) himself believed that 2000 [60oz] was a good price for a slave4.

>Found in what is now Romania, in Roșia Montană (Roman centre Alburnus Maior), on the site of a former Roman gold mine, wax tablets show us what prices for slaves were in the 2nd century CE. One of the plates, dated 135 CE, is a contract regulating the purchase of a slave girl for 205 denarii (820 sesterces) [21oz]. Another plaque from 142 CE authorizes the sale of a slave boy for 600 denarii (2,400 sesterces) [62oz].