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Ancient Roman Coins

 The currency of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire was used from the middle of the second century BC through to the middle of the forth century AD. 

 

The iron metal  punch or die was engraved with a specific design by the coin maker one being  “heads” and the other “tails” A metal disk made from gold silver or bronze was placed between the two dies and struck with a metal hammer. Not unsurprisingly, many Roman coins were struck off-center, resulting in coins loosing part of their design.

Roman Coinage

Early Empire from 27 BC

Gold Aureus

Silver Denarius

Bronze Sestertius

Late Empire from 375 – 476AD or fall of the Roman Empire

Gold Solidus

Silver Siliqua

Bronze Centenionalis

Every citizen and educated slave was expected to acquire complete mastery of the monetary system.

The Roman army in the second century had a strength of about 154,000 legionnaire troops and an approximately equal number of auxiliary soldiers. It has been estimated that the total Roman army was paid 69,300,000 denarii a year or 1,940,400 kilos of silver.

Bronze Sestertius with portrait of Emperor Hadrian, 117-138 CE.
 

Silver Denarius with portrait of Emperor Hadrian, 117-138 AD.