After Nero began debasing the silver denarius, its legal price was an believed 1-3rd better than its intrinsic benefit. Through the treason of Bacilis (a confidant of the Dacian king), the Romans located Decebalus' treasure in the Strei River (estimated by Jerome Carcopino as 165,500 kg of gold and 331,000 kg of silver). For some time at least he found work as an attendant in the public baths.