Roman Imperatorial and Imperial Coinage

Bernhard E. Woytek

The Periods

• Civil Wars at the End of the Republic (49 – 31 BC)

Issues of the Rome Mint – “Imperatorial“ Issues

• Principate (31/27 BC – AD 284: Diocletian)“Augustan“ System (with modifications: Caracalla etc.)

Imperial Coinage and Provincial Coinages

• Dominate (AD 284 – 491: Anastasius I.)

Unified Currency. Monetary Reforms of Diocletian, Constantine I. and of Constantine‘s Sons

The Roman „Imperial“ Coinage:Three Important Aspects

• Creation of a Regular Gold Coinage:

Aureus (produced continuously from Caesar onwards), Solidus (created under Constantine I.)

• Portrait of the Ruler on the Obverse:

Introduced to Rome under Caesar, 44 BC

• Creation of the Medallion:

Coin-like, non-monetary object, outside the denominational system, but produced by the official mint

Gold Coinage

Aureus, Julius Caesar, 48 BCLess than 10 pieces known

Gold Coinage

First Large Issue of Aurei produced under Caesar‘s Rule:Aulus Hirtius, Praetor, 46 BC

Die Study (RIN 2003, M. C. Molinari): 537 pieces listed

1 Aureus =

25 Denarii

(see Cassius Dio 55,12,3)

Gold Coinage: Augustus (27 BC – AD 14)

Imperial Bronze Coinage:The Augustan System

1 Denarius = 4 SestertiiFrom Augustus on in BRASS:Part of the coinage reform,made Senatus Consulto (SC)

1 Sestertius = 2 Dupondii

1 Dupondius = 2 Asses

Gold Coinage: Nero (AD 54-68)

Nero‘s Monetary Reform (AD 64):Aurei struck on a Standard of 45 to the Roman pound (libra: c. 327g)

-> theoretically c. 7.27g (but struck al marco)

Gold Coinage: Caracalla (AD 211-217)

Introduction of the Double Aureus (Binio)

(British Museum, Inv. 1867,0101.772: 13.02g)

Gold Coinage: Gallienus (AD 253-268)

Aureus, Rome, 264-2676.07g

„Binio“,Mediolanum, 262

3.64g

Weights vary considerably -> coin values had to be established individually

Aureus, Rome, 2572.36g

Fineness of Imperial Gold Coins

3rd Century:Drop in Fineness

Source:C. Morrisson et al.,

L’or monnayé I: purification et altérations

de Rome à Byzance(1985)