When considering prices in ancient Rome, it is also worth looking at what pay a Roman legionary could count on. Thus, the wages of the Roman army were gradually increased over the years.
Writers in the 2nd century BCE Polybius reports that the soldier received a daily wage of 2 oboles, which was about 120 denarii per year (480 sesterces).
2.Julius Caesar (mid 1st century BCE) raised the wage to 225 denarii (900 sesterces), which was sustained during the reign of Octavian Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE).
3.In Domitian (81-96 CE) it increased to 1,200,
4.in Septimius Severus (193 -211 CE) to 2400,
5.from Caracalla (211-217 CE) to 3600 sesterces and
6.Maximinus Thrax (235-238 CE) raised the pay to 1,800 denarii (7,200 sesterces).
If course inflation was rampant due to dilution of the PM-content of the coins.
So, comparing it to the Quinarius, on average, 77.5 Sesterces went into 1 Quinarius, 2-4 grams @ 95% Silver content.
And it all depends on what could be bought with it. From the view of a sewage cleaner, during the time of diocletian (301 AD) with price controls, 80-100 sesterces coulld buy about 2 libra (about 600 g) pork. So: 144 pounds of flesh a year.
And it does not include other perks as booty and land.
So, I am not so sure you could use this as a comparison. A better one is to consider Europe around 1300-1900. You could live very well, with 5 of your staff including lodging on a silver coin @ 28 grams of silver.
However as a rule of thumb, multiply the Gold/silver ratio with the current price of Silver and you get in the goldi lock zone.
https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-society/salary-in-ancient-rome/
2.Julius Caesar (mid 1st century BCE) raised the wage to 225 denarii (900 sesterces), which was sustained during the reign of Octavian Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE).
3.In Domitian (81-96 CE) it increased to 1,200,
4.in Septimius Severus (193 -211 CE) to 2400,
5.from Caracalla (211-217 CE) to 3600 sesterces and
6.Maximinus Thrax (235-238 CE) raised the pay to 1,800 denarii (7,200 sesterces).
If course inflation was rampant due to dilution of the PM-content of the coins.
So, comparing it to the Quinarius, on average, 77.5 Sesterces went into 1 Quinarius, 2-4 grams @ 95% Silver content.
And it all depends on what could be bought with it. From the view of a sewage cleaner, during the time of diocletian (301 AD) with price controls, 80-100 sesterces coulld buy about 2 libra (about 600 g) pork. So: 144 pounds of flesh a year.
And it does not include other perks as booty and land.
So, I am not so sure you could use this as a comparison. A better one is to consider Europe around 1300-1900. You could live very well, with 5 of your staff including lodging on a silver coin @ 28 grams of silver.
However as a rule of thumb, multiply the Gold/silver ratio with the current price of Silver and you get in the goldi lock zone.