New scientific analysis of the composition of Roman denarii has brought fresh understanding to a financial crisis mentioned by the Roman statesman and writer Marcus Tullius Cicero in his essay on moral leadership, De Officiis.

Professor Kevin Butcher explains the context: “In the years after 91 BC the Roman state was in danger of becoming bankrupt. The Romans were at war with their own allies in Italy, and by the conclusion of the war, in 89 BC, there was a debt crisis.

By 86 BC there appears to have been a crisis of confidence in the currency, too. Cicero related how the Roman tribunes approached the college of praetors to resolve the crisis, before Gratidianus claimed sole credit for the collective effort.

“One theory is that Gratidianus fixed the exchange rate between the silver denarius and the bronze as (which had only recently been reduced in weight). Another is that he published a method for detecting fake denarii, and so restored faith in the coinage.

The Faculty of Arts is pleased to welcome Dr Rob O'Toole as the new Director of Experience and Progression Digital Arts and Humanities from 1 April 2021.

Can you spare 10 minutes to talk to artist Matthew Raw and to express your feelings and plans about the move of the Arts and Humanities departments into the new building? He is interested in talking to anyone who will live with the building (and mural!) every day. If you would like to be involved, please contact Sarah Shalgosky asap at S.H.Shalgosky@warwick.ac.uk.

The University of Warwick is celebrating the progress of its new Faculty of Arts development with a ceremony to mark the progress in construction.