GOLD coins are generally abbreviated as "AU" or even "AV".
The main gold roman denomination was the aureus.
Constantine replaced this with the solidus. Other gold denominations
were the semissis, the scripulum
and later the tremissis.
Aureus of Tiberius (RIC 25)
The aureus was the main gold coin of the Early Empire, and its minting was under the direct control
of the Emperor. Under Augustus, the currency was such:
Solidus of Theodosius II (RIC 257)
Constantine introduced a new gold coin in his reign, to replace the aureus, which was called the solidus
and was 1/72 of a pound.
Tremissis of Theodosius II (RIC 213)
The tremissis was introduced by Theodosius I to replace Constantine's scripulum, and
was worth a third of a solidus.
SILVER coins are generally abbreviated as "AR".
The main silver roman denomination was the denarius. This
coin lasted until the mid third century AD, when it was gradually replaced by the
antoninianus. Later Roman empire silver coins were
the argenteus, siliqua, and
miliarense.
Denarius of Domitian (RIC 281)
The denarius was the main silver coin, in fact the main denomination, of the Roman Republic. Under the Empire,
Augustus controlled the minting of the gold and silver denominations, and the denarius continued. Under Nero
the weight and fineness of the denarius dropped, and this cost-cutting practice was continued under successive
emperor. By the reign of Caracalla, the denarius was about 40% silver, and the new
antoninianus was introduced. The denarius continued, but was gradually phased
out, first becoming bronze, and then disappearing after serving the Romans for almost 400 years.
Quinarius of C. Egnatuleus (Crawford 333/1)
Silver quinarii, or half denarii, were minted sporadically throughout the Republic.
Its minting became more regular under the Early Principate and, under Augustus, it was worth 8 asses.
Antoninianus of Caracalla (RIC 264c)
This coin was introduced by Caracalla and worth twice that of the Denarius, but it
actually only had about one and half that of the denarius's silver content. Both the Antoninianus and the denarius
continued for some time until the denarius was phased out. Gradually, over the Third Century, the silver
content of the antoninianus dropped, until it was merely silver washed bronze coins. At this
time, it is considered to be an AE coin.
Argenteus of Galerius (RIC 42b)
This silver coin was first minted by Diocletian as part of his monetary reforms. It lasted until the reign
of Constantine and replaced the old denarius, for it was roughly the same fineness and weight of the early
denarius.
Siliqua of Valentinian I (RIC 33a)
Another silver coin introduced by Constantine, and worth 1/24 of a solidus.
Originally it was 1/96 of a pound of silver, but his son, Constantius II reduced it to 1/144 of a pound
of silver.
AE coins, ie those coins abbreviated as "AE", are generally made of base metals, such as Bronze
(an alloy of tin and copper), copper (a reddish metal) or orichalcum (a yellowish metal).
The main bronze denominations of the early empire were the sestertius,
the dupondius (orichalcum) and the as (Copper). Bronze coins
in these days were usually issued by the Senate, and had SC (Senatus Consulto) on the reverse.
Later both the denarius and the antoninianus
lost their silvering and became bronze coins. The Later Roman Empire has the folles
as its' main bronze coin, but there was also the centenionalis and numerous
other nameless denominations now known as "AE"s.
Sestertius of Marcus Aurelius (RIC 1230)
The orichalcum sestertius (plural: sestertii) was the largest bronze denomination in the early Roman Empire,
and it continued, growing only gradually smaller until the reign of Postumus (usurper in the breakaway
Gallic Empire, AD 259-258) who minted the last sestertius. Because of their larger flan, the sestertii,
particularly of the earlier empire, had the potential for exquisite reverses which many moneyers, particularly
under the Adoptive and Antonine dynasties, used to portray their finest works.
Quadrans of Tiberius (RIC 32)
The copper quadrans (plural: quadrantes) was worth a quarter of an as under Augustus. It was one of the
smallest denominations in the Early Principate.
Follis of Diocletian (RIC 19a)
The bronze follis (plural: folles), originally silver washed, was a new denomination of Diocletian's
monetary reforms. The follis, however, soon began to decline in diameter and weight. The follis then mingled
into the AE category (below) as the size of bronze coins fluctuated radically. The example to the left is an
earlier (therefore larger) version of the Follis.
Centenionalis of Constantius II (RIC 191)
The bronze centenionalis were the attempts of Constans and Constantius II to reintroduce a large bronze coin,
as the follis (above) had by then shrunk dramatically. The centionalis, however, did not last long and by the
end of Theodosius the Great only smaller varieties of bronze coins were minted.
AE1 of Julian (RIC 216) and AE2 of Theodosius I (RIC 44b)AE3 of Julian (RIC 379) and AE4 of Arcadius (RIC 123)
The bronze coinage of the later Roman Empire has too many varieties in diameter and weight. No record is
known of the names of these denominations, or their worth. They are broadly categorised as AE1 (27mm or
larger in diameter), AE2 (23 to 27mm), AE3 (17 to 23mm) and AE4 (less than 17mm).
