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Coins of Roman Britain 1st & 2nd century

Many different denomination of coins were issued for use in the Roman Empire, but only a
relatively small section found their way to Britain.

The sestertius was actually introduced as a silver coin at the same time as the denarius. It was
only issued intermittently, however, until it was struck as a base-metal coin under Augustus.

The Portable Antiquities Scheme website has a very good section on identifying Roman Coinage
which you can find here http://www.finds.org.uk/romancoins/

Denarius
A silver coin, of about 20mm in diameter, issued from before 200BC to about 280 AD , making
it the longest surviving denomination of the Roman Empire. During this period , the Denarius
was the only coin that could be used for paying state taxes. To give some idea of its value in
present day terms, during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD Roman Legionaries were paid 300
Denarii per year.

Sestertius
A large coin of about 30-35 mm in diameter, usually struck in orichalcum (a Roman brass type
alloy) and valued at 4 to a Denarius. First issued by the Emperor Augustus in the early 1st
century, it remained in use until the late 3rd century.

Dupondius
A coin of about 25-30 mm in diameter, also made from orichalcum and with a similar period of
issue - valued at 2 to a Sestertius. From the time of Vespasian, AD69-70, the portrait of the
Emperor was usually depicted wearing a "radiate" crown representing the rays of the sun.

As
A similar coin to the Dupondius both in size and period of use but struck in copper - valued at 2
to a Dupondius. It is often difficult to distinguish between the two coins, particularly when found
with the green patina common to copper alloy coins found in British Soil conditions. The As was
the most common coin of the 1st and 2nd centuries and was extensively copied, probably by the
Roman Army. When in circulation, the As would buy a haircut - so it would be worth a few
pounds at today's values.

Semis
Similar in size and appearance to a Denarius but struck in brass - valued at 2 to an As. Never a
common coin even when in circulation.

Coins of Roman Britain - 3rd and 4th Centuries


The coinage of the 3rd and 4th Centuries is complex and confusing.

It was a time when the Roman Empire was under attack on many fronts and the economy was in
decline. Many reforms of the coinage were attempted and few lasted more than a short time. The
most significant coin issues are described below:

Antoninianus

First introduced by the Emperor Caracalla in AD 214, this coin was initially struck in silver and
valued at 2 Denarii. The coin was named after Caracalla's official name - "Antoninus" and
showed the Emperor wearing the radiate crown, hence its more common name "Radiate". When
first issued, this coin was about 22mm in diameter and struck in reasonably good silver (about
50% fine). As the 3rd Century progressed, inflation reduced it, both in size and silver content
until it became a bronze coin, sometimes only 10 mm in diameter, until production finally ceased
at the end of the century. This coin was issued in vast quantities by both legitimate and usurper
Emperors.

Many illegal copies were produced, mainly of poor quality, hence their common name -
"Barbarous Radiates"

Follis
Issued by the Emperor Diocletion in about AD 295, this was, initially, a large coin of about 25-
30 mm diameter struck in bronze with a thin silver was applied. Within 20 years or so the Follis
had been reduced to a small bronze coin of about 18-20 mm with no attempt at silvering.

Coins of the 4th Century


The names of the common 4th century denominations have not been recorded in history so
modern terminology is used to classify the coins struck as Ae1, Ae2, Ae3 and Ae4, Ae1 being
the largest. All these coins were struck in bronze with no silver content.

Ae1
from 25-30 mm diameter, this coin was issued by the Emperor Julian II, AD 360-363, possibly in
an attempt to revive the original Follis.
Ae2
About 22mm in diameter, issued by the Emperors Constantius and Constans in AD 348, possibly
known as a Centenionalis, but discontinued in AD 354.

Ae3
About 18mm in diameter, this coin was probably the final version of the Follis , although coins
of this size continued to be issued well into the 5th Century.

Ae4
Below 17mm in diameter, coins of this size were issued throughout the 3rd Century and almost
to the end of the 5th. Found in large quantities on most Roman sites their value must have been
very small.

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