{"id":2719,"date":"2023-03-17T01:07:03","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T00:07:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=2719"},"modified":"2023-03-17T01:07:03","modified_gmt":"2023-03-17T00:07:03","slug":"what-currency-did-ancient-rome-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/what-currency-did-ancient-rome-use\/","title":{"rendered":"What currency did ancient rome use?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ancient Rome used a number of different currencies over its long history. The first currency used was the Roman Republic’s currency, which consisted of bronze and copper coins. This was followed by the Roman Empire’s currency, which consisted of gold and silver coins. Finally, during the Byzantine Empire, a new currency known as the solidus was introduced.<\/p>\n

The ancient Romans used a number of different currencies, including the sestertius, denarius, aureus, and others.<\/p>\n

What did Romans use before coins? <\/h2>\n

The early Roman Republic did not use coins but rather a system of bronze weights, the aes rude. These were eventually replaced in the fourth century BC with aes signatum, large cast ingots decorated with either a branch (ramo secco), or several other designs.<\/p>\n

The Romans made trade as easy as possible by using only one currency and not having any complicating customs dues. They also encouraged trade by having many years of peace within the Empire. Trade was vital to the success of the Empire.<\/p>\n

Did ancient Rome Use coins <\/h3>\n
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Early Roman coins were made of bronze, but they later evolved to include silver, gold, and copper in the coin-making process. The most popular and prevalent coin of the Roman Empire was the denarius, made from pressed silver. It remained in circulation for an astonishing five centuries.<\/p>\n

The Romans used a yellowish alloy of copper and zinc, a type of brass called orichalcum, for the higher token denominations (see nos 80-81). The redder copper was used for the two smallest denominations. This helped to distinguish between the different values of the coins.<\/p>\n

What was the most common coin in ancient Rome? <\/h2>\n

The denarius was the standard Roman silver coin, and was the most commonly used denomination in the Roman world. It circulated in various forms for almost 500 years, from the overhaul of Roman coinage in 211 BC under the Republic, until it was last struck under the Emperor Diocletian. The denarius was originally worth 10 asses, and was later worth 16 asses or 4 sestertii. It was first struck in 211 BC, and continued to be minted until the end of the Roman Empire.<\/p>\n

This silver denarius Roman Republic coin is the oldest Roman coin ever found. It was discovered during an excavation in 2000 at Hallaton, Leics. The coin sat on a shelf at a museum for 10 years before anyone realized the importance of their find.<\/p>\n

What were the first Roman coins? <\/h2>\n
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The Aes Signatum was the first true Roman coin, replacing the Aes Rude sometime around the start of the 3rd century BC. These coins were cast and had a regular, rectangular shape. They were also stamped with raised designs, making them more than simply lumps of metal.<\/p>\n

Agriculture was the basis of the economy in the ancient world. There were mostly small farmers, but there were also wealthy landowners who employed many peasants and slaves to work on their huge estates. The main crops were, logically, the Mediterranean triad of wheat, grapes, and olives. Crafts were also important.<\/p>\n

Did the Romans invent money <\/h3>\n

The first Roman coins were created around 300 BC, long after they first appeared in the Greek world. Roman coins were made of bronze and copper, and their value was based on their weight. The first coins were minted in Rome, and they featured the head of the goddess Roma on one side and a chariot on the other. The minting of coins spread to other parts of the Roman Empire, and soon there were coins minted in Gaul, Britain, and North Africa.<\/p>\n

Caesar minted coins to commemorate his political and military accomplishments during his lifetime. He first began minting coins in his own name upon his return to Rome in 49 BC and continued doing so until his death in 44 BC. Caesar’s coins are a valuable source of information about his life and times.