Roman Gold Coins: Tokens of Power, Pieces of History

Now, let's jump back in history and talk about the Roman Empire. What associations do you have with it? Surely, you immediately imagine powerful emperors, impressive military force, luxurious triumphal arches or bloody gladiatorial fights. But what if the power, might and wealth of an empire could be judged on more than just the above? Another colorful symbol of the time are ... coins.

Roman Empire gold coins are more than just money, they are a symbol of exchange, an important political instrument and a sign of unbreakable power. They are highly appreciated for many reasons, e.g., because of their historical context, their craftsmanship, the metal used and the variety of their design. So, these ancient Rome gold coins are still sought after and desired by collectors and history buffs.

Milestones of History

The coinage system of Rome developed in parallel with its power and ancient gold Roman coins did not appear immediately. Initially in the Republican period Romans used bronze and silver coins, and gold coins began to be actively minted only with the advent of the Empire. So, let's talk about these coins in more detail.

Asses

One of the first and most famous coins of ancient Rome, which was used for a long time (starting from the period of the Roman Republic and continuing into the Imperial era). The ass became the basis of the Roman monetary system and played a key role in the Roman economy.

Main Characteristics:

• A cast bronze coin used for all major petty monetary transactions, the coin originally weighed about 327 grams (Roman pound), later reduced to half a pound, and finally reduced in the age of Augustus to about 11 grams.

• In earlier times it was cast in bronze, in later times in copper (during the Roman Empire).

• Over time, the design of the coin changed, but the basic characteristics remained the same: the obverse of the coin often shows a two-faced Janus (later coins show images of other deities), and the reverse shows various symbols of Roman power (an ear, a galley, an anchor, weapons, or symbolic animals).

• The ass lost value in the 3rd century AD, having been initially replaced by the sestertius (equal to 2.5 asses; made of silver and later bronze; weighing approximately 25 grams) and the dupondius (equal to 2 asses; made of bronze and later brass; weighing approximately 11-17 grams). These, in turn, were also replaced in the 3rd century AD by silver or gold coins.
  

  

Denarius

Coins as we see them today appeared when Rome began minting bronze and silver coins based on the Greek model. But it was only in the middle of the 3rd century BC that a unified system of coins was introduced, including bronze, silver and ancient Roman gold coins. This is when the denarius, a silver coin entering circulation, became the basis of the Roman currency system for the next few centuries.

Main Characteristics:

• The denarius became the main silver coin, originally equal to 10 asses, later 16 asses (after the introduction of the lighter bronze ass), the coin weighed about 4.5 grams (weight decreased over time due to crises)

• It was minted from high quality silver (about 95% purity), but later copper was added to silver, which eventually led to devaluation.

• On the obverse of early coins depicted various gods, such as Minerva (goddess of wisdom and war) or Roma (personification of Rome, the conqueror of the universe), later began to depict Roman emperors. The reverse reflected triumphal scenes, symbols of power or gods.

• Over time, the denarius lost its former popularity and virtually disappeared from circulation, giving way to gold solidus and other large denominations.
  

  

Aureus

Aureus appeared after the denarius and became one of the most important Roman gold coins. Since its introduction, it played a key role in the Roman monetary system and was a symbol of wealth and power.

Main Characteristics:

• The aureus became the main gold denomination in the Roman Republic and was an important monetary unit until the end of the Roman Empire. The coin was made of pure gold (95-99% purity), the coin weighs 7-8 grams.

• The aureus was one of the highest denomination coins, and its value was higher than that of the denarius by about 25 times (i.e., 1 aureus = 25 denarius).

• On the obverse of the coin depicted the profile of Roman emperors in a crown or wreath (starting with Julius Caesar), the reverse reflected important events and triumphal scenes, emphasizing the greatness of the emperor.

• Aureus was used in the Roman Empire as a sign of wealth and power (owning aureus felt joined to the greatness and power of the empire), but later its minting was reduced, and it was replaced by smaller gold coins - solidus.
  

  

Solidus

The solidus is an ancient roman gold coin that appeared later, in the 4th century AD (during the reign of Constantine the Great). It replaced the aureus and became the new dominant coin of the Roman Empire. The solidus was characterized by high quality of minting and gold content (not like the 2000 Sacagawea Dollar coin), which ensured its longevity in the monetary system. It became a symbol of stability and was widely used in trade and finance.

Main Characteristics:

• Solidus became a replacement for aureus, which no longer met the needs of the empire in stable and high-quality gold coin, it was made of gold (95% purity), the weight of the coin was 4.5 grams.

• The solidus became the main gold denomination of the Roman Empire and was used until the end of the Byzantine Empire in the fourteenth century.

• The obverse of the coin depicted the emperor in profile, with a wreath or crown and inscriptions with his name and titles, the reverse of the coin contained images of deities, symbols of power and victory scenes.

• The coin served as a model for other gold coins in Europe during the Middle Ages and continued to be used in the Byzantine system for many centuries.
  

  

The Eternal Value of Roman Coins

Interest in the coins of the Roman Empire has not faded to this day. Modern collectors and numismatists especially appreciate these coins for their historical value and artistry. Below you can find some examples of rare gold Roman coins that are in particular demand.

1. Aureus with the Image of Emperor Nero

• Aureus, made of gold, weight about 7-8 grams, date of issue 64-65 AD; the coin was considered one of the most prestigious and valuable in ancient Rome.

The obverse features a portrait of Nero (realistic) wearing a laurel wreath, which confirms his status as a victor and ruler, while the reverse is decorated with deities or symbols of Nero's power, glory and achievements.

Value of the coin: highly dependent on the condition of the coin and its characteristics, the price can range from $8,000 to $30,000.

2. Solidus of Constantine the Great (306-337 AD)

• Late Roman solid, made of gold (98%), weighs about 4.5 grams.

On the obverse side of solidus usually depicted the profile of Emperor Constantine the Great in the imperial crown. The reverse often shows various symbols of greatness or deity.

Value of the coin: from $800 to several tens of thousands of dollars depending on the condition and individual characteristics of the coin.

If you are wondering where to find these and other gold roman coins for sale, you need to turn to auction houses, specialty stores and online platforms like CNG Auctions and VCoins.

From Ancient History to Your Modern Collection

Ancient coins fascinate and captivate many with their centuries-old history and the spirit of greatness of ancient times. Today, they are also popular and valuable among professionals, collectors and connoisseurs who can appreciate their originality. If you also want to build an interesting collection and identify foreign coins, you can use the Coin ID Scanner app - a great assistant for evaluating and searching for rare specimens, guiding you like a pro. You can start your way into the world of numismatics today, happy collecting!