Cost of stuff in Rome

Following up on the coins issue I found a very interesting article about the prices of stuff in ancient Rome.  These prices are for the year 301 AD.  The complete article can be read here.

First surprising finding is the usage of a common dinarii (denariicommunes). Which was actually a notational currency.  

A quote from the article:

All the prices and wages are listed indenariicommunes, which were not actually silverdenariias we usually think of when discussing ancient Roman coinage. Denarii communes, or d.c., were notational currency.  What this means is, an exchange rate was given, telling how much of the currency in circulation at that time (nummi) it took to equal one d.c.  This made it easy to change the value of the money in circulation, without having to rewrite and redistribute the entire edict.  A series of exchange tables are at the end of this handout.

I'll list some of the most interesting prices, but first some units:

modius = 8 liters dry unit
libra = 326 grams
sextarius = 546 ml

Common Food Items

Barley, Rye	60 Denarii per Modius
Beans, Crushed	100 Denaris per Modius
Beans, Whole	60 Denarii per Modius
Beef, Mutton or Goat	8 Denarii per Libra
Beer	2 to 4 Denarii per Libra
Cabbage and Lettuce	1 to 2 Quintarius
Cheese	8 Denarii per Libra
Chickens	30 Denarii
Eggs	1 Denarius
Fish, River	8 to 10 Denarii per Libra
Fish, Sea	15 to 25 Denarii per Libra
Goose	100 to 200 Denarii
Ham	20 Denarii per Libra
Honey	10 to 40 Denarii per Sextarius
Lentil Beans	100 Denarii per Modius
Sausage	10 to 16 Denarii per Libra
Olive Oil	40 Denarii per Sextarius
Peaches	1 to 2 Quintarius
Pheasant	125 to 250 Denarii
Pork or Lamb	12 Denarii per Libra
Rice, cleaned	200 Denarii per Modius
Salt	100 Denarii per Modius
Wheat	100 Denarii per Modius
Wine	16 to 30 Denarii per Sextarius

Common Wages

Artist, mosaic worker	50 - 60 Denarii per day
Barber	2 Denarii per customer
Bath Attendant	20 -25 Denarii per day
Carpenter	50 Denarii per day
Farm Laborer	25 Denarii per day
Fortune Teller	20 - 25 Denarii per day
Fuller (Wool weaver)	175 Denarii per cloak
Linen Weaver	20 - 40 Denarii per day
Manual Laborer	25 Denarii per day
Messenger	18 - 20 Denarii per day
Scribe	1 Denarius per 5 - 7 lines
Secretary	30 - 35 Denarii per day
Skilled Tradesman	35 - 75 Denarii per day
Stone Mason	50 Denarii per day
Teacher, elementary	50 Denarii per month
Teacher, advanced	250 Denarii per month

Soldiers' Base Pay:                

1800 Denarii per year               Praetorian Guard:         5500 Denarii per year

Annual Grain Annona:             600 Denarii per year

Donative (bonus pay 4 per year)             2500 Denarii

Grain allotment                      30 Modii of wheat per year

For the next article I'll be working up some prices for weapons and armor.  Stay tunned!