Edict on Maximum Prices

The maximum price edict (Latin: Edictum De Rerum Pretiis Venalium ) 301 was adopted by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. It set maximum prices established for a variety of products and services, beyond which should be punishable by the death penalty.

During the kingdom crisis of the 3rd century coins were minted by the numerous emperors and usurpers, thereby inflation has been greatly fueled. As part of the reformations of Diocletian, a tax reform ( capitatio - Iugatio ), a monetary reform and as part of the coinage reform the maximum price edict were made. In this the maximum prices for over a thousand products which, as well as the maximum wages for services. The lowest daily wages were the shepherds and farm workers. As the prices of craft products were very high, especially the poorer population suffered under this edict. However, the edict did not achieve the desired effect, the prices were often covered, or has it been left to barter.

The prices are given as denarii communes ( Rechnungsdenare ) - not conforming to the denarii of the early imperial period. The previously introduced Follis was established on September 1, 301 with 25 denarii communes.

Expenditure

• Siegfried Lauffer (ed.): Diocletian's price edict. de Gruyter, Berlin 1971 ( = texts and commentaries, Volume 5 ).