The Emperor's Silver: Agent of Rome 5 by Nick Brown Page B

rather fat. Indavara sat up immediately, more interested in what she had brought.
    ‘Afternoon, sirs.’
    ‘Hello,’ said Indavara, already on his feet.
    The maid placed the tray on the corner of the table, prompting a tut from Quentin. She put down a jug and three mugs, a bowl of glistening red grapes and a plate of sweet-smelling pastries.
    ‘Wine for everyone?’
    ‘Not for me,’ said Quentin. ‘And don’t spill any.’
    With a practised smile, the maid poured wine for Cassius and Indavara, recovered the tray and departed as quickly as she’d arrived. ‘Compliments of Master Arruntius. If you would like anything else, please ask.’
    ‘Thanks a lot,’ said Indavara. He slurped at his wine, eliciting another tut from Quentin.
    ‘Why not go back to your bench?’ said Cassius. ‘Take the cakes.’
    Indavara didn’t need a second invitation.
    ‘What he lacks in decorum he more than makes up for in other areas.’
    ‘I don’t doubt it.’ Quentin put his arms on the table and interlocked his fingers. ‘Do you know why this mint was commissioned?’
    ‘So that the local and visiting legions can be paid; and the Emperor can introduce coins bearing his image – show his face, so to speak.’
    ‘That’s part of it, yes.’
    ‘And also to restore confidence in the currency.’ Finance was not Cassius’s strong point but he knew inflation and debasement had worsened in recent years.
    ‘Quite so. As I said in the workshop, we are aiming for a consistent five per cent silver in the new denarius. Under some of the Emperor’s predecessors, it had dropped to as low as one per cent.’
    ‘Strange, really,’ said Cassius, ‘when one considers that all coins were originally a hundred per cent gold or silver or bronze.’
    ‘Unfortunately that is now impossible, but we are doing what we can.’
    Quentin leaned across the desk and selected a coin from his collection. He handed it to Cassius. ‘See the XX below the sun god? It guarantees the five per cent minimum – twenty coins would make one of pure silver. If all goes to plan, within a few months these denarii should be the dominant coin of exchange across the Empire. The XX mark is designed to breed confidence. Confidence is our best weapon against inflation.’
    ‘But with all these coins being produced it’s a perfect time to introduce and distribute false currency.’
    ‘Precisely. And with counterfeits of such quality mixing with genuine coins, we will find it very difficult to identify the source.’
    ‘So what about these fakes? Do you have one to show me?’
    Quentin nodded at Cassius’s hand.
    ‘This?’ He examined it. The detailing of the lettering and images was excellent.
    Quentin passed him another denarius. ‘This is genuine. It’s actually slightly heavier – the fake is made with poor-quality bronze.’
    Cassius held them in different hands. ‘I can’t tell.’
    ‘Only a trained man can. If you look closely at the Emperor’s crown and the lines of some of the letters, they are slightly different. This is how we know they are using the same initial die, though they must have produced copies because of the sheer number and spread.’
    ‘I’ve seen the odd fake around,’ said Cassius. ‘Mostly bronzes. They’re usually lighter, or smaller, or with ragged edges. It’s obvious.’
    ‘We see better counterfeiting in the northern provinces, Britain in particular, but these are the best I’ve come across east of Byzantium.’
    ‘This gang has expert help, then?’
    ‘Yes. And unfortunately there are a number of mint workers able to provide it. You are aware of the Felicissimus plot?’
    ‘Not the details.’
    ‘Felicissimus was Minister of Finance before Sabinus and was implicated in the fraudulent production of coins. He was making huge profits on the side, as were his accomplices at the mint. There were quite a few senior men on his payroll and several escaped justice, taking dies like you saw just now with them.