Znaleziska ciętych monet z Ptolemais w Cyrenaice

The distinctive feature of money circulation in the area of Cyrenaica during the first decades of the Roman Empire is a considerable demand for small coins. This feature is common for the overwhelming majority of monetized urban areas in the declining years of the Republic and the early days of the Empire, and it was also one of the main reasons for the flourishing practice of cutting coins. A major increase in bronze coin finds cut into halves and quarters resulted from the excavations of the Polish archaeological mission in Ptolemais. At present, the group of cut bronze coins found in Ptolemais consists of 62 specimens, 57 of which come from Polish excavations conducted in the years 2002–2009, whereas fi ve, being surface finds from the site area, are in the collection of the local archaeological museum. This article was enhanced by a set of 21 coins from Cyrenaica, held in private collections.