Roman Coins: From Republic to Empire |
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Ancient Roman coins are
a popular choice
for beginning collectors, because their legends are easily read, and the Roman series has
a logical structure similar to collecting modern coins by date and
mintmark. Roman coins are classified into three series, each offering enough interest and variety for a
lifetime of collecting. Before coins were developed, Roman
money was cast bronze ingots. The first coins were issued under the
Republic, beginning with cast Aes Grave issues of the third
century bc. |
The Roman Forum |
After the Punic Wars, these cumbersome cast coins were replaced by a new
series of Roman coins based on the denarius,
the principal Roman denomination for the next four hundred
years. Struck bronze coins were issued during the next century,
but bronze issues ceased in the 1st century bc. Collectors of Republican
coins pursue various topical specialties, some selecting Aes Grave while others focus on the numerous varieties of
late Republican denarius issues. |
| After
a series of great wars, Rome's
dominion
extended first over Southern Italy, next the western Mediterranean, and
ultimately the entire Mediterranean world. These conquests destabilized the Republic,
which ended when Julius Caesar
was assassinated in 44 bc. His nephew Augustus emerged as the first
Roman Emperor, inaugurating two centuries of Pax
Romana. After the Republic was succeeded by the Empire, the
denominations of Roman coins expanded to include regular issues of
gold aureii, while the sestertius became the principal bronze issue.
During the third century the denarius was replaced by the antoninianus,
and debasement of Roman coins issued during the second half of
that century reflects the effects of barbarian invasions. Diocletian reformed the coinage and the new denominations of Roman coins, later
modified by Constantine and his successors, endured until the end of the
Empire. Collectors of Roman coins of the Imperial series tend to focus on
getting a good portrait of each emperor, which can be a challenge since
some (particularly usurpers) had brief reigns.
Many provincial cities and
Roman colonies, particularly in the Balkans and in Asia Minor, struck
civic and colonial issues under the Empire. These are also Roman coins,
all issued under Imperial or Senatorial authority, although their types
are different and legends are normally in Greek. The vast Roman Provincial
or Greek Imperial series offers many collecting challenges since most of
these issues are rare, although many are still very reasonably priced. The
extensive coinage of Roman Egypt is a significant collecting field in
itself.
In the third century barbarian invasions overwhelmed the Principate, which was replaced by the Tetrarchy. After Diocletian retired, Constantine
reunited the Empire. Constantinople, his new
capital, eclipsed Rome in 330. After
Theodosius died the Empire was divided between his sons,
and the West could not cope with its economic and military problems. Germans poured over the
borders and the Western Empire collapsed in
476. |
The Republic
289-41 bc |
Imperatorial Issues
71-27 bc |
The Roman Empire
27 bc - 498 ad |
Roman
Provincial Coins
(Greek Imperial Coins) |
Cast Bronze Coinage
(Aes Grave)
289 -212 bc |
Pompey the Great
(and his sons)
71 - 40 bc |
The Twelve Caesars
27 bc - 96 ad |
The Tetrarchy
285 - 324 |
Western Europe and
North Africa |
Pyrrhic and Punic Wars
280-212 bc |
Julius Caesar
49 - 40 bc |
The Adoptive Emperors
96 - 197 |
The Age of Constantine
307 - 337 |
Eastern Europe |
The Denarius Coinage
211 - 41 bc |
Brutus and Cassius
43 - 42 bc |
The Severan Dynasty
193 - 235 |
Heirs of Constantine
337 - 363 |
Asia Minor |
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Mark Antony
44 - 31 bc |
The Soldier Emperors
235-268 |
Valentinian and
Theodosius
364 - 423 |
Roman Egypt |
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Octavian
43 - 27 bc |
The Time of Troubles
259-285 |
The Late Empire
423 - 498 |
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