Reading the History of the Roman Fort in Apsaros (Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Georgia) from a Numismatic Perspective / Odczytując historię rzymskiego fortu w Apsaros (Adżarska Republika Autonomiczna, Gruzja) z perspektywy numizmatycznej

Abstract

An analysis of coin finds recovered in recent years from the area of the former Roman fort in Apsaros (Gonio, Georgia), allows us to look at the periodization of the history of the Roman military presence in this place from a new perspective. The chronological structure of silver and bronze coins, including those found individually, in hoards and in small foundation deposits, clearly indicates the existence of only a few stages of increased coin inflow in the almost two-hundred-year history of the presence of Roman army units in Apsaros. All of them coincide with important military events in the East and seem to be a testimony to the periodic concentration of Roman troops in the fort. Between the waves of monetary inflow, one can easily observe periods in which coins only reached Apsaros to a limited extent. The aim of the paper is an attempt to interpret the main waves of coins entering the fort in Apsaros in a historical context.