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Roman currency for most of Roman history consisted of gold, silver, bronze, orichalcum and copper coinage. [1] From its introduction during the Republic , in the third century BC, through Imperial times, Roman currency saw many changes in form, denomination, and composition.
The world of Roman currency is a fascinating journey through time, mirroring the rise and expansion of the Roman Empire itself. From the primitive aes rude to the esteemed gold aureus, each coin tells a story of power, propaganda, and socio-economic dynamics.
Roman coins were first produced in the late 4th century BCE in Italy and continued to be minted for another eight centuries across the empire. Denominations and values more or less constantly changed but certain types such as the sestertii and denarii would persist and come to rank amongst the most famous coins in history.
From the crude bronze chunks of the early days to the intricately designed gold solidi of the Byzantine era, Roman coins serve as enduring testaments to the civilization‘s wealth, power, and cultural sophistication.
Aureus, basic gold monetary unit of ancient Rome and the Roman world. It was first named nummus aureus (“gold money”), or denarius aureus, and was equal to 25 silver denarii; a denarius equaled 10 bronze asses.
Rome overhauled its coinage shortly before 211 BC, and introduced the denarius alongside a short-lived denomination called the victoriatus. The denarius contained an average 4.5 grams, or 1⁄72 of a Roman pound, of silver, and was at first tariffed at ten asses, hence its name, which means 'tenner'.
Initially, Roman coinage was a part of three separate money systems, which had arisen organically and independently of one another, but were gradually rationalised: (1) Aes Signatum (bronze ingots weighing about 1500g); (2) silver and bronze ‘Romano-Campanian’ coinage (genuine struck coins); (3) Aes Grave (cast bronze disks). None of this ...
For most of its history, Roman currency comprised gold, silver, bronze, orichalcum, and copper coinage. Introduced during the Republic in the third century BC and continuing through the Imperial period, the currency experienced various changes in form, denomination, and composition.
At the foundation of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE, it is thought that the primary currency of the ancient world was in form of copper coins, known as As. As is thought to have been the most common medium of exchange at the time, although silver and gold coins likely circulated as well.
The Roman Economy’s Currency. The Roman currency system was another critical component of the economy. The Romans introduced the denarius, a silver coin, as their primary currency. Over time, they issued various denominations of coins, including aurei (gold) and sestertii (bronze).