Which Roman provinces often experienced a shortage of legal tender?
In the context of Roman numismatics, Roman Britain is a notable example of a province that frequently experienced a shortage of official legal tender. Following the Roman conquest, the lack of official coinage led to the production of unofficial copies of Claudian bronze to meet local demand.1
For much of its history, Britain lacked an official mint, relying instead on coinage supplied primarily from Gaul. While the usurper Carausius and his successor Allectus briefly produced official-style coinage in the late 3rd century, and a mint operated in London under Constantine until 324 ce, the province remained largely dependent on external supply. Consequently, imitative bronze pieces continued to be manufactured locally throughout the 3rd and 4th centuries to alleviate these persistent shortages.1