Free men are paid wages and slaves get tips

Free men are paid wages and slaves get tips.

In ancient Rome, it was common for slaves, especially skilled or domestic ones, to receive small gifts or monetary tokens from their masters or others. These were called peculium, a kind of personal savings slaves could accumulate, even though legally it still belonged to the master. Over time, a slave could use their peculium to purchase their own freedom in a formal process called manumission. In practice, it functioned similarly to tips or bonuses, rewards for good service or loyalty. It was one of the few pathways out of slavery, and many slaves pursued it strategically.