Although it has sometimes been thought that ancient Rome lacked "paper" or documentary transactions, the system of banks throughout the Empire also permitted the exchange of very large sums without the physical transfer of coins, in part because of the risks of moving large amounts of cash, particularly by sea.
Meskipun di Romawi kuno jarang terjadi transaksi dokumenter atau "kertas", sistem perbankan di seluruh Kekaisaran juga mengizinkan pertukaran uang dalam jumlah besar tanpa adanya transfer fisik koin, umumnya untuk menghindari risiko perpindahan uang tunai dalam jumlah besar, terutama melalui laut.