October 4, 2023
Roman coins are fascinating artifacts that reveal the history, culture and politics of one of the greatest empires in the world. Roman coins were first minted in the late 4th century BCE and continued for almost eight centuries until the collapse of the western empire in the 5th century CE. Roman coins were made of different metals, such as gold, silver, bronze and copper, and had different denominations, values and designs. Here are some of the most common Roman coins that you can encounter in your study or collection of ancient history.
The Aureus: This was the gold coin of the Roman Empire, equivalent to 25 denarii or 400 aes. It was first minted in the late 3rd century BCE by the dictator Sulla and continued until the 4th century CE. The aureus usually featured the portrait of the emperor or a member of his family on the obverse, and a deity, a symbol or a scene on the reverse. The aureus was a sign of wealth, prestige and power, and was often used to pay soldiers, officials and foreign allies. The aureus was also used as a reserve currency and a store of value.
The Denarius: This was the silver coin of the Roman Empire, equivalent to 16 aes. It was first minted in 211 BCE by the consul Gaius Flaminius and lasted until the 3rd century CE. The denarius was the most common and widely circulated coin in the Roman world, and it also served as a unit of account and a standard of value. The denarius usually had the same design as the aureus, but with different legends and symbols. The denarius was used for everyday transactions, such as buying food, clothing and services. The denarius was also used as a medium of exchange and a measure of wealth.
The Sestertius: This was a large brass coin, equivalent to 4 aes or a quarter of a denarius. It was first minted in 211 BCE by the consul Gaius Flaminius and continued until the 3rd century CE. The sestertius was mainly used for accounting purposes, such as paying taxes, rents and fines. The sestertius often had more elaborate and detailed designs than the aureus and the denarius, depicting buildings, monuments, events and achievements of the emperors. The sestertius was also used to measure wealth, income and prices, as it was equivalent to 1000 sestertii.
The Dupondius: This was a smaller brass coin, equivalent to 2 aes or half a sestertius. It was first minted in 23 BCE by Augustus and lasted until the 3rd century CE. The dupondius had a similar design as the sestertius, but with a radiate crown on the head of the emperor to distinguish it from the aes. The dupondius was used for smaller payments and change, such as buying bread, wine and oil.
The Aes: This was the smallest and least valuable coin of the Roman Empire, made of bronze or copper. It was first minted in the 4th century BCE by Servius Tullius and continued until the 3rd century CE. The aes had various denominations, such as the as (one aes), the semis (half an aes), the triens (a third of an aes) and the quadrans (a quarter of an aes). The aes usually had simple designs, such as a bust of Janus (the god of beginnings and endings) on the obverse, and a prow of a ship (a symbol of Rome's naval power) on the reverse. The aes was used for very low-value transactions, such as buying salt, eggs and vegetables.
These are some of the most common Roman coins that you can encounter in your study or collection of ancient history. They are not only beautiful pieces of art, but also valuable sources of information about the Roman Empire and its people.
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