Northwestern Thrace, known as the province of Moesia Inferior in Roman times, played an important role in early monetary history. Whereas the Greek settlement in the area goes back to the 7 th century BC, it was not until the classical period that we can observe the first local coinages. The minting activity of Roman cities in the region, such as Marcianopolis and Nicopolis ad Istrum, culminated in the 2 nd and 3 rd centuries AD.