Reference Tables of Roman Coins

Dr H S Preston

Coin types and denominations changed over the years of the Roman Empire and Roman coinage can be usefully grouped into a number of historical periods as set out in Tables 1 and 2. A grasp of these periods (and the associated coin denominations) is important for an understanding of Roman coinage, making it relatively easy to assign an approximate date to the coin, and to know where to start looking in the reference books.

It should be noted, however, that the tables are an outline, necessarily simplified, and should only be treated as a starting point. The coinage of the more turbulent periods of Table 2 is quite complex, having been subject to a number of short-lived reforms, and the table does no more than illustrate some key features. The denomination "antoninianus", for example, has been used here as a catch-all for base silver and base metal coins (often silvered) where the emperor wears a radiate crown and the diameter is in the region of 19-23 mm.

Table 1 Roman coinage BC 300 - AD 192

Period	Principal coins	History and People	Images
Romano-Campanian BC 300-212	"Greek" looking didrachms with ROMANO or ROMA legends, large cast bronzes and some struck token bronze. $1200-3000 (didrachms)2	Rome begins to emerge on the western Mediterranean scene. Greek colonies in Italy are gradually absorbed. Period of the (Punic) wars with Carthage.
Middle Republican BC 211-140	"Roma head" denarii, mainly with Dioscuri or chariot reverses. Coin types are fairly static; moneyers names appear. Some struck bronze, the as and its fractions. $70-150	Rome takes control of the Mediterranean region. Macedonia becomes a Roman province. Roman interest in literature, history and philosophy is evident.
Later Republic BC 139-50	Denarii often display images referring to past events or Rome's foundation mythology, and glorifying the aristocratic families of the moneyers. Some bronze. $90-220	Roman wealth increased, literature flourished but social problem led to civil wars, such as the conflict between Marius and Sulla.
Imperatorial Period BC 49 -27	Denarii with portraits of living Romans appear. Some gold aureii and bronze. Legends bearing name and title appear. Portrait coins $600-2000	Corrupt and stagnant structures provided opportunities for ambitious and powerful figures and spelled the end of the republic. Pompey, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Octavian (Augustus) are important figures of this period.
Julio-Claudians to the Civil War BC 27 - AD 68	The five principal denominations (aureus, denarius, sestertius, dupondius, and as) were struck in quantity, though not for each emperor. Portrait coins of empresses and other notables appear and continue for the rest of the Roman series. $300-2000	Included here are the issues of the Julio-Claudian emperors (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero) and civil war emperors Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. Much Roman literature comes from this and the preceding period.
Flavians AD 69-96	The five principal denominations continue. $100-250	The Flavian Emperors were Vespasian, Titus and Domitian.Old-fashioned values were re-established after the turmoil of the late Julio-Claudian period.
Adoptive Emperors AD 96 - 137	The five principal denominations continue. $80-180	The adoptive emperors were Nerva, Trajan, and Hadrian. The first half of the second century AD is considered to be Rome's golden age.
Antonines AD 138-192	The five principal denominations continue. Large numbers of coins were issued with the portraits of the empresses Faustina I and II and Lucilla. $70-140	The Antonine emperors are Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus and Commodus.Traditional Roman culture was reinforced during this period. Marcus Aurelius is considered an important ancient writer.

¹Obverse images of silver coins. ²An indicative retail price for common silver coins in very fine condition. All are denarii except where indicated.

Table 2 Roman coinage AD 193 - AD 491

Period	Principal coins	History and People	Images
Civil war and the Severans AD 193-235	The five principal denominations continue, with relatively less bronze coinage. Silver denarii issued in larger numbers, but with reduced silver content. $60-$1201	Pertinax, Didius Julianus and Percenius Niger had short reigns during a civil war from which the Severan dynasty (Septimius Severus, Caracalla, Geta, Elagabalus and Severus Alexander) emerged. The Severan period was interrupted by the 14-month reign of Macrinus in 217-218.
Military Anarchy AD 235-285	Mass production of the silver denarius ceased in the 240s.It was replaced by the antoninianus, a double denarius that rapidly became debased to bronze and reduced in size.Bronze sestertii, asses etc were discontinued by 270. Gold Aureii continued. $20-$602	Rome was ruled by a series of soldier emperors, mainly from the Balkans. There are too many emperors to list here. Maximinus I, Gordian III, Philip I, Valerian, Gallienus, Claudius II, Aurelian and Probus are some of the more important. A low point in the history of the empire and the decline is reflected in the coinage.
The Tetrarchy AD 284-313	The gold aureus was gradually replaced, after AD 309, by the lighter solidus. The antoninianus continued until around AD 300 when billon/ bronze follis was introduced. $20-$60 2	The period began with one of Rome's great emperors, the reformer Diocletian.Other Major figures of this complex period were Maximinianus, Galerius, Maxentius, Licinius, and Constantine the great.
The Constantinian Era AD 313-364	The main denominations were the gold solidus, the follis (bronze or billon) and the AE3 (a sometimes silvered bronze coin of around 20mm in diameter). Various silver denominations also appeared. $10-$503	Rulers include Constantine the Great, his sons Constantine II, Constans, Constantius II, nephew Julian II and the rebel Magentius. During the period Christianity became the state religion and Christian symbols begin to appear on coins.The capital was moved from Rome to Byzantium.
The House of Valentian AD 364-395	The main denominations were the gold solidus, the silver siliqua and the AE3. $20-$604	The empire was on the wane and split into eastern and western divisions. It was under continual pressure from invaders such as Goths and Huns.The throne was dominated by the extended family of Valentian (Valens, Gratian, Valentian II and Theodosius the Great).
The fifth century and the end in the west AD 396 - 491	The main denominations were the gold solidus and tremissis. Bronze coins of the period are tiny and hard to decipher. $150-$3005	The Theodosian dynasty continued into this period with a number of weak emperors including the sons of Theodosius, Arcadius, Theodosius II and Honorius.Other important rulers include Valentian II, Marcian, Leo I Majorian and Zeno. Rome was sacked in AD 410 by the Visigoths and in 455 by the Vandalls. The Roman empire survived in the east as the Byzantine.

* An indicative retail price for common issues in very fine condition; ¹ a silver denarius; ² a base metal antoninianus, ³ an AE3, ⁴ a silver siliqua, ⁵ a gold tremissis