Roman coins span six centuries of continuous production, from the early Republic in the 3rd century BC to the fall of the Western Empire in 476 AD. They are among the most widely collected ancient objects in the world and, crucially, among the most accessible: a silver denarius of a common emperor like Commodus or Septimius Severus in Fine condition can be purchased for 30 to 80 euros. This combination of historical depth and price accessibility makes Roman coins a uniquely compelling entry into numismatics for collectors who want to hold genuine antiquity in their hands.

The main denominations you will encounter

  • Denarius (AR) — the standard silver coin of the Roman Empire, approximately 3 grams and 17-20mm. Struck from the 3rd century BC through the 3rd century AD. The most widely collected Roman coin type. Early denarii (Republic through Augustus) have higher silver purity; later Imperial denarii were progressively debased.
  • Sestertius (AE) — large bronze coin of the Imperial period, 25-35mm and 20-28 grams. Often carries the most detailed portraiture and reverse imagery of any Roman coin. Values in VF start at 80 euros for common types, rising to thousands for rare emperors or exceptional condition.
  • As and Dupondius (AE) — smaller bronze denominations, accessible at 15 to 50 euros in readable condition for common types.
  • Aureus (AV) — the gold coin of the Empire, approximately 7-8 grams. Values start at 500 euros for the most common types in Poor condition and reach six figures for rare emperors or exceptional quality.
  • Antoninianus (AR/AE) — a double denarius introduced by Caracalla in 212 AD, distinguishable by the radiate crown on the emperor's portrait. Common types in VF: 20 to 60 euros.

How to read a Roman coin

Every Roman coin has two sides with consistent iconographic logic. The obverse (front) shows the portrait of the emperor or an important figure, surrounded by a legend giving the name and titles in Latin abbreviation. The reverse shows a deity, allegorical figure, or commemorative scene, also with a legend identifying it. Learning to read the legends requires only basic Latin abbreviations: IMP (Imperator), AVG (Augustus), TR P (Tribunicia Potestas), COS (Consul), PP (Pater Patriae).

Grading ancient coins

Ancient coins use the traditional numismatic grading scale in English: Poor, Fair, About Good, Good, Very Good, Fine (F), Very Fine (VF), Extremely Fine (EF or XF), About Uncirculated (AU), Mint State (MS). Most ancient coins on the market grade between Fine and Very Fine. A VF example shows most details clearly with moderate even wear. An EF example retains all design elements with only slight wear on the highest points. Genuine Mint State ancient coins are exceptional and should be viewed with scrutiny.

Where to buy and what to avoid

The most reliable sources for authenticated Roman coins are specialist numismatic auction houses: Numismatica Ars Classica (NAC), Bertolami Fine Arts, Roma Numismatics, and CNG (Classical Numismatic Group). The VCoins marketplace aggregates dozens of specialist dealers with return policies. For lower-value purchases, eBay can be adequate when the seller has strong feedback specifically in ancient coins, not general collectables.

Never clean a Roman coin. Patina (the stable oxide layer that forms over centuries) is considered part of the coin's authenticity and condition. A cleaned coin is worth significantly less than a patinated example of the same type, because cleaning removes surface detail and signals tampering. Bronze coins develop a green patina (verdigris); silver coins a grey or black toning; gold coins retain their colour almost indefinitely.