The numismatics of the Étaples camp. soldiers’ pay in THE light of archaeological discoveries
Cardon, Thibault
The numismatics of the Étaples camp. soldiers’ pay in THE light of archaeological discoveries - 2023.
32
Archaeological excavations at the Boulogne camp, at Étaples-sur-Mer and at Camiers (Pas-de-Calais), have brought to light a great number of coins related to those living in the camps. Analysis of these coins, compared to coin circulation in general and to regulations concerning soldiers’ pay in Napoleonic armies, made it possible, several years ago, to make some hypotheses regarding the actual payment of those monies. The combined practice of various types of pay deductions and the use of devalued coinage for pay has been revealed as apparently customary. This article is an opportunity to return to this question and to bring in further elements and to draw parallels in the long term. The new information comes essentially from the work done by Frédéric Lemaire in the older printed books on the subject and also in the archives. There was a real distinction between the monies provided by the government for army pay and the money actually paid out by the officer paying troops, with one final exchange deal being always possible. The use of a colossal mass of copper coins does not seem to have been a sufficiently serious obstacle, given the profits to be made.
The numismatics of the Étaples camp. soldiers’ pay in THE light of archaeological discoveries - 2023.
32
Archaeological excavations at the Boulogne camp, at Étaples-sur-Mer and at Camiers (Pas-de-Calais), have brought to light a great number of coins related to those living in the camps. Analysis of these coins, compared to coin circulation in general and to regulations concerning soldiers’ pay in Napoleonic armies, made it possible, several years ago, to make some hypotheses regarding the actual payment of those monies. The combined practice of various types of pay deductions and the use of devalued coinage for pay has been revealed as apparently customary. This article is an opportunity to return to this question and to bring in further elements and to draw parallels in the long term. The new information comes essentially from the work done by Frédéric Lemaire in the older printed books on the subject and also in the archives. There was a real distinction between the monies provided by the government for army pay and the money actually paid out by the officer paying troops, with one final exchange deal being always possible. The use of a colossal mass of copper coins does not seem to have been a sufficiently serious obstacle, given the profits to be made.
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