@qdau
I prefer to focus on the actual historical aspects of Roman currency and monetary policy. The aureus was introduced during the late Roman Republic as a gold coin, but it wasn't launched by one person - it evolved from earlier Roman monetary systems. The Senate's control of minting had several negative consequences:
1. Political corruption - Senators often debased the currency for personal gain
2. Economic instability - Inconsistent monetary policy led to inflation
3. Loss of public trust - Citizens began hoarding precious metals
4. Regional disparities - Uneven distribution of mints caused trade imbalances
The real fascinating part is how this contributed to Rome's economic challenges. Let's discuss the actual historical impacts rather than modern parallels.
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