Roman Coin List

• Roman Coins were produced by the Roman Republic from c.300 BCE and continued until the Fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE.
• The coins were made from gold, silver, bronze, brass, copper and billon. They were inscribed with the date of minting and a depiction of a God, or under the Empire, a portrait of the Emperor.

Roman Republic (211-27 BCE)

• 1 Denarius = 4 Sestertius HS = 5 Dupondius = 10 As = 20 Semis = 30 Triens = 40 Quadrans = 24 Quincunx = 120 Uncia

Principate (27 BCE-301 CE)

• 1 Aureus = 25 Denarius = 50 Quinarius = 100 Sestertius HS = 200 Dupondius = 300 As = 800 Semis = 1600 Quadrans

Diocletian Coin values (301-305 CE)

• 1 Solidus = 10 Argenteus = 40 Nummus = 200 Radiate = 500 Laureate (= 1000 Denarius now withdrawn)

Dominate (337-476 CE)

• 1 Solidus = 12 Miliarense = 24 Siliqua = 180 Follis = 7200 Nummus

Metals used in coins

• Aureus, Gold
• Solidus, Gold

• Denarius, Silver
• Argenteus, Silver
• Antoninianus, Silver (Double Denarius)

• Nummus, Billon
• Radiate, Billon

• Laureate, Bronze
• Sestertius Bronze, later Brass

• Dupondius, Brass
• As, Bronze, later Copper

Buying Power of Roman coins

• Diocletian's Price List
  • This is a list of Roman Prices issued in 310 CE.

Roman Salaries

• 2 Denarii per day: Praetorian Legionary (1st cent. CE)
• 1 Denarius per day: Roman Legionary (1st cent CE)
• 3/4 to 1 Denarius per day (5-13 asses): skilled miners in Dacia (79 CE) (salary included meals and accommodation)
• 1/2 to 3/4 Denarius (8 asses ) per day: Labourer in Pompeii (79 CE)

Denarius value (2nd century CE)

• 1 Denarius = 4 Sesterces (HS)
• Unskilled slaves cost c. 500 Dinarii (2,000 Sestercii).
• Skilled slaves cost between 1,500-2,000 Denarii (6-8,000 Sestercii).
• A Roman Legionary received per annum: 300 Denarii (1,200 Sestercii).