Ancient Coin Denominations
Roman Coin Denominations
Early Empire
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For some Roman coins the ancient name of the denominations are unknown. Antoninianus is a modern name for the double denarius denomination (taken from the real name of Caracalla, who created the denomination).
The antoninianus is a Roman double denarius coin denomination (pl. antoniniani) struck from 215 to 293 A.D. (or 274 if you consider the later issues, sometimes called aurelianiani, a new denomination). On the obverse of the antoninianus the emperor is depicted wearing a radiate crown, caesars are bare-headed, and empresses are shown with a lunar crescent behind their shoulders. On some later antoniniani the emperor wears a helmet. The ancient name for the type is unknown. Our modern name for it, antoninianus, names it after Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (nicknamed Caracalla) who introduced it in A.D. 215. Although the antoninianus was valued at two denarii, the weight was considerably less than that of two denarii. During the reign of Gordian III the antoninianus replaced the denarius as the primary Roman denomination. The first antoniniani were first struck with an alloy containing about 49.5% silver, but the denomination was continually debased until by 274 the alloy contained only 2.5% silver. In 274, Aurelian reformed the radiate denomination, striking on a copper core with a 5% silver coating, and valuing the new coin at 5 denarii commune. Older antoniniani no longer circulated after this reform and the radiate coins struck after the reform of 274 until 293 are also called aurelianianus. The antoninianus (or aurelianianus) was used until reform of Diocletian in 293.
In 293,
Diocletian introduced the
follis (plural: folles) a new larger denomination with a laureate portrait to replace the
radiate antoninianus (or
aurelianianus).
Diocletian 's new denomination had a copper core, and a 5% silver plate, the same as the radiates it replaced, but was c. 28 - 32 mm
diameter, on a consistent
weight standard of 10.75 grams. The
follis was initially tariffed at 5
denarii communes (also the same as the radiates it replaced), but was later devalued to 12.5 d.c. and then to 25 d.c. Smaller fraction were struck with a
radiate portrait, called "post-reform radiates." On the
tetrarchic folles,
portraits of the various emperors were highly
stylized and usually indistinguishable. Often the emperor depicted can only be determined by the
obverse legend. The most common
reverse type had the
legend GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, and depicted the
Genius (spirit) of the Roman people standing making a sacrifice. In 301, the western mints struck a common
type with the
legend Sacra Moneta, and depicting
Moneta standing holding
scales and a
cornucopia. The large folles of the
Tetrarchy fell out of circulation in 306 when
weight standards were reduced.
Late Roman Empire Denominations
In 307, Constantine introduced a reduced size and
weight silver
plated follis (nummis). Over the fourth and fifth centuries the nummis was continually reduced and also debased until the silver plating disappeared. Different denominations were issued but we often do not know what they were called by the Romans and often different size coins were the same denomination,
just again reduced. We don 't know with certainty the ancient names or values of many of the late Roman bronze coins and refer to them with designations based on size.
AE1 = c. 26 mm - 30 mm. Sometimes called the maiorina, sometimes a double-centenionalis.
AE2 = c. 20 mm - 26 mm. Sometimes called a centenionalis. At first it was a coin about 22 mm - 26 mm and weighing 4.9 - 6.1 grams, but later--the "reduced centenionalis" was 20 - 22 mm and about 3.0 to 4.7 grams.
AE3 = c. 17 mm - 21 mm. Early examples are sometimes called a Nummus, later ones sometimes called a half-centenionalis, they are about 18 - 22 mm and until about 325 C.E. weighed about 3.0 - 3.5 grams. From about 326 - 336 it weighed only 2.5 - 3.0 grams. After Constantine divided the Empire between his sons and half-nephews, 337, the coin was further reduced to what we call AE3/4 or AE4.
AE3/4 = c. 15 mm - 18 mm. Also sometimes called a nummus These are 15 - 18 mm and weigh about 1.4 - 2.0 grams.
AE4 = less than 17mm. Properly called nummus minimus, but also called a nummus, a small coin, heavily leaded, and devoid of silver. Initially these coins were 13-16 mm and 1.3 - 1.7 grams but declined in the late 4th and 5th centuries to where they are only 9.5 - 12 mm and 0.7 - 1.0 grams.
The designation or denomination of a coin is based on the usual size for the type. The coins were handmade and the same type can vary significantly in size. Some individual coins that are larger or smaller than usual for their type will be outside the parameters above.
Also see Doug Smith 's Size Scales.
Silver Standards
New Testament References to Coin Denominations
| Greek Denomination | Roman Value | Judean Value | Biblical References |
Talent (τάλαντον)
| ~6000 Denarii | ~1500 Shekels | Matt. 18:24, 25:15-28 |
Stater (στατήρ)
| 4 Denarii/64 Asses | 1 Shekel/ 256 Prutot | Matt. 17:27 |
Didrachma (δίδραχμον)
| 2 Denarii/ 32 Asses | Half-Shekel/128 Prutot
| Matt: 17:24 |
Drachm (δραχμή)
| 1 Denarius/ 16 Asses
| 64 Prutot | Luke 15:8-9 |
| Judaean Denomination | Roman Value | Judaean Value | Biblical References |
Lepta (λεπτόν)
| 1/128 Denarius or 1/8 As
| ½ Prutah
| Mark 12:42, Luke 12:59, 21:2 |
| Roman Denomination | Value | Biblical References |
| Denarius (δηναριον) | 16 Asses | Matt. 18:28, 20:2, 9-10, 13, 22:19, Mark 6:37, 12:15, 14:5, Luke 7:41, 10:35, 20:24, John 6:7, 12:5, Rev. 6:6 |
| As (ασσαριον) | Basic unit of currency
| Matt. 10:29, Luke 12:6 |
Quadrans (κοδράντης)
| ¼ As | Matt. 5:26, Mark 12:42
|
Also see Walter Holt 's "Coin Denominations Referenced in Various Biblical Texts."
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