|
 |
|
What
were the principal denominations or coin values used by the ancients? |
|
Numerous denominations
were in use throughout antiquity. Many of these were fractions or
divisions of the principal denominations, which were: |
|
Greek Coins |
|
Denomination |
Image |
Weight |
Used |
Multiples and fractions |
|
AV Stater |
 |
8.6g |
Alexandrine Empire, Hellenistic
Kingdoms |
Distater |
AR Stater
(Lydian) |
.jpg) |
10.5g |
Asia Minor
(Archaic) |
Many fractions: 1/3 and 1/12
stater are common |
AR Hemistater
(Lydian)
or Siglos |
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5.25g |
Asia Minor
(Archaic) |
1/3 siglos or hekte |
AR Stater
(Tridrachm) |
 |
10.5g |
Asia Minor |
|
AR Stater
(Didrachm)
or Nomos |
 |
8.5g |
Magna Graecia |
Distater or Tetradrachm |
|
AR Tetradrachm |
 |
17g |
Universal |
|
|
AR Drachm |
 |
4.25g |
Universal |
Didrachm, hemidrachm |
|
AR Obol |
 |
0.7g |
Universal
replaced by bronze coinage |
Tetrobol, triobol,
diobol,trihemiobol, hemiobol, tetartemorion |
|
AE |
Denominations mostly uncertain -
many sizes. An AE Obol was a large coin (25 mm). |
|
Roman Coins |
|
Denomination |
Image |
Weight |
Used |
Multiples and fractions |
| AV
Aureus |
 |
8g |
Late
Republic. Principate |
Double
Aureus (Binio),
1/2 Aureus (Quinarius) |
| AV
Solidus |
 |
4.5g |
Dominate
|
Multiples (gold medallions);
1/2 solidus (Semissis);
1/3 solidus (Tremissis) |
| AR
Didrachm |
 |
7g |
Early
Republic |
|
| AR
Victoriatus |
 |
3.5g |
Early
Republic |
|
| AR
Denarius |
 |
4g |
Middle
Republic through Principate |
1/2
denarius (Quinarius);
1/4 denarius (Sestertius) |
| AR
Antoninianus
|
 |
5.8g |
Late
Principate |
|
| AR
Siliqua |
 |
3.4g
(heavy)
2.25g
(light) |
Dominate
|
Multiples (1.5 siliqua);
Fractions (3/4, 1/2 siliqua) |
| AR
Miliarense |
 |
5.4g
(heavy)
4.5g |
Dominate |
Multiples (3 miliarensia) |
| AE
Sestertius |
 |
27g |
Principate |
Double Sestertius |
| AE As
(cast) |
 |
320g
(libral)
to
41g
(sextantal) |
Early
Republic |
Multiples:
Decussis, Tressis, Dupondius;
Fractions:
Semis, triens, quadrans, sextans, uncia |
| AE As
(struck) |
 |
44g
(Republic)
declining to 6.5g
(Principate) |
Middle Republic through Principate |
Multiple: Dupondius (2 aes)
Fractions:
Semis
Quadrans
Sextans
Uncia |
| AE
Follis |
 |
11.3g
declining to
0.7g |
Dominate |
Fractions: 1/2, 1/4
Reduced folles are usually described as AE 3 or AE 4 |
| AE
Centenionalis |
 |
5.7g
declining |
Dominate |
Multiple: Double
Fraction: 1/2 |
|
Byzantine Coins |
|
Denomination |
Image |
Weight |
Used |
Multiples and fractions |
| AV
Solidus |
 |
4.4g |
Early
and Middle Empire |
Multiples (gold medallions);
1/2 solidus (Semissis);
1/3 solidus (Tremissis) |
| AV
Histamenon |
 |
4.4g |
Middle
and Late Empire |
|
| AV
Hyperpyron |
 |
4.4g |
Late
Empire |
|
| EL
Histamenon |
 |
4.4g |
Late
Empire |
|
| EL
Aspron Trachy |
 |
4g |
Late
Empire |
|
| AR
Miliarense |
 |
5.0g
(Heavy)
4.0g
(Light) |
Early
Empire |
|
| AR
Siliqua |
 |
2.2g |
Early
Empire |
|
| AR
Hexagram |
 |
6 to 7g |
Early
and Middle Empire |
|
| AR
Trachy |
 |
2-3g |
Latin
Conquest, Restored Empire |
|
| AR
Basilikon |
 |
2g |
Restored Empire |
|
| AR
Stavraton |
 |
6.8g |
Restored Empire |
|
| Billon
Aspron Trachy |
 |
4.4g |
Late
Empire |
|
| AE
Follis |
 |
13-26g,
declining |
Early
Empire
through Late Empire |
|
| AE
Tetarteron |
 |
5-6g,
declining |
Late
Empire |
|
| AE
Trachy |
 |
2-3g |
Latin
Conquest
Restored Empire |
|
| AE
Assarion |
 |
1.5-2g |
Restored Empire |
|
|
Persian
Coins |
|
Denomination |
Image |
Weight |
Used |
Multiples and fractions |
|
AV
Daric |
 |
8.4g |
Achaemenid Empire |
Double daric |
|
AV Dinar |
 |
7-8g |
Sasanian Kingdom |
1/2 dinar |
|
AR Siglos |
 |
5.5g |
Achaemenid Empire |
1/2 siglos |
AR Stater
(Tridrachm) |
 |
10.5g |
Achaemenid Empire |
|
|
AR Tetradrachm |
 |
15g |
Parthian Kingdom |
|
|
AR Drachm |
 |
4.2g |
Parthian Kingdom, Sasanian Kingdom |
Hemidrachm |
|
AR Obol |
 |
0.7g |
Parthian Kingdom, Sasanian Kingdom |
Diobol |
|
Billon Tetradrachm |
 |
13.5g |
Parthian Kingdom, Sasanian Kingdom |
|
|
AE |
Denominations mostly uncertain -
many sizes. Parthian and Sasanian Kingdoms. |
