Did the Roman money barter and how did they trade it?

The city of Rome became the centre of the thriving and extensive trading network of the Roman Empire. Goods were transported from all over the massive empire and were sold in the four corners of the empire. Trade reach beyond the empire. There was trade with Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, India and China. The city of Rome imported goods on a massive scale.

The city of Rome was a massive importer of corn (half of it from Egypt, the rest from Tunisia, Sicily and Sardinia) which was needed to feed its large urban population. It also imported large quantities of olive oil (the largest supplier was Spain, followed by Turkey and Syria). It also imported expensive cloth, silk (from China) and linen and cotton (from Egypt) for the rich. Spices, herbs, sesame oil, sugar, limes, peaches, ebony, pearls and wild animals (tigers, rhinos, elephants, and snakes which were used for circus-type animal acts) were imported from India. Egypt, besides corn and textiles, exported papyrus, ivory, gemstones, ebony, ostrich feathers, leopard skins, lions, leopards and elephants. Incense, perfumes and spices were imported from Arabia. Timber, wool, wine, glass and horses were imported from the Middle East. Spain also exported silver, wine, timber, and horses. France exported glass, wine, and wool. Britain exported silver and wool. There was also a trade in marble, granite, porphyry and other stones for buildings.

Rome and Italy exported amphorae, manufactures, cameos and other jewellery, works of art, some marbles, wool and wine.