Coins constitute an exceptional source of archaeological, chronological, and historical information. In this paper, we explore the potential of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for analyzing a selection of over 4,000 Roman coins unearthed within the city of Augsburg (Germany). By integrating the numismatic database built by the local Stadtarchäologie in the existing AugustaGIS developed in cooperation with the University of Augsburg, we were able to visualize the density and distribution of the coins, offering new hints to interpret the urban development of the city. In particular, we present two case studies to showcase the relevance of the approach, the first related to the formative phase of the settlement in early Imperial times, and the second devoted to better understanding the extension of the city during the Late Roman period (4th to early 5th century AD). • GIS analysis of 4000+ Roman coins from Augsburg reveals urban development patterns; • Early Imperial coin density suggests key insights into Augusta Vindelicum’s formation; • Late Roman coin patterns show delayed urban contraction in late 4th-5th century AD; • Digital geonumismatics provides substantial tools for urban and historical analysis.
Guio et al. (Sun,) studied this question.