Main Types of Roman Coins: Denarius, Aureus, Sestertius & More

Explore the main types of Roman coins—from silver denarii and bronze sestertii to the rare gold aureus. A hands-on, collector’s guide to Rome’s currency.

Introduction: Coins With Character

Not all Roman coins are created equal. Some feel small and practical, others are so heavy they barely fit in your hand. The first time I bought a sestertius, I honestly thought it looked more like a medal than a coin—it was that big. Meanwhile, the denarius, that little silver workhorse, was the coin that kept Rome’s economy moving for centuries.

Understanding the different types of Roman coins isn’t just trivia. It’s the first step in figuring out what’s in front of you when you hold one. And trust me, once you start recognizing the types, you’ll never look at them the same way again.

The Silver Denarius

If you ask most collectors where they started, the answer is usually the denarius.

• History: Introduced around 211 BCE, the denarius quickly became Rome’s backbone currency. Soldiers were paid in it, traders trusted it, and emperors used it to spread their image.

• Look & Feel: Typically about the size of a U.S. dime but thicker, with the emperor’s face on one side and gods, victories, or personifications on the other.

• Collector’s Take: Honestly, this is where most of us cut our teeth. Common emperors like Trajan or Hadrian are affordable, and they’re easy to recognize once you’ve handled a few. But every so often, you’ll stumble across a famous type—the Julius Caesar portrait denarius, or the “EID MAR” of Brutus—and those are the holy grails.

👉 Related: Roman Coin Identification Guide

The Bronze Sestertius

The sestertius is the showpiece of Roman bronze coinage.

• History: Popular during the early empire, it was worth four asses and had decent buying power. But beyond economics, it became a canvas for imperial art.

• Look & Feel: Big, heavy, often 25–35mm across. Some portraits on sestertii are the best you’ll ever see—bold, lifelike, and detailed. A few even show architecture like temples and amphitheaters.

• Collector’s Take: I still remember flipping my first sestertius under the light and thinking, “This feels like holding Rome itself.” But condition is everything. A sestertius in poor shape looks like a corroded disc. A well-preserved one? It’s a masterpiece.

The Gold Aureus

Ah, the aureus. The dream.

• History: Struck in solid gold, the aureus was reserved for big transactions, military bonuses, and imperial gifts. It wasn’t something the average Roman ever handled.

• Look & Feel: About the size of a denarius but far heavier, gleaming in gold with crisp portraits and reverses celebrating imperial victories.

• Collector’s Take: Here’s the truth—most of us will never own one. Even the “common” aurei go for thousands at auction. I’ve only ever seen a few up close at coin shows, and the feeling is surreal. You can admire them in catalogs, dream a little, and maybe one day add one to your collection. But for now, they sit on the horizon like a mountaintop you plan to climb.

The Antoninianus

Introduced with ambition, and then—well, let’s just say it didn’t age gracefully.

• History: Caracalla launched the antoninianus in 215 CE as a “double denarius.” The catch? It wasn’t actually double. And as the years passed, the silver content dropped until they were mostly bronze. It’s a coin that tells the story of Rome’s inflation crisis.

• Look & Feel: You can spot one instantly: emperors wear a radiate crown, like sun rays. That was the marker of “double value.”

• Collector’s Take: These are everywhere, and they’re cheap. Perfect if you want to hold a piece of the empire’s 3rd-century struggles. Some people dismiss them as junk, but I find them fascinating—coins that literally show an empire straining at the seams.

The Follis and Late Roman Bronzes

By the time Rome staggered into its later centuries, bronze was the coin of daily life.

• History: The follis came in with Diocletian’s reforms around 294 CE. It had a thin silver coating at first, which wore off quickly. Later emperors struck smaller bronzes that circulated widely.

• Look & Feel: Military imagery dominates—emperors in armor, soldiers carrying standards, or Christian symbols like the Chi-Rho under Constantine.

• Collector’s Take: I bought a handful of Constantinian bronzes for pocket change once, and they were a great learning experience. They may not be pretty, but they’re history you can buy for the price of a coffee.

Other Roman Coin Types (Quick Glance)

• As & Dupondius: Smaller bronzes common in the Republic and early empire.

• Solidus: The late Roman gold coin that replaced the aureus, and a direct ancestor of Byzantine coinage.

• Quinarius & Semis: Half-value coins that pop up less often, but they make nice side additions to a type set.

Collecting by Type

Some collectors go after every emperor they can find. Others focus on one metal. But building a Roman type set—owning at least one example of each major coin type—is incredibly rewarding.

• Denarii and bronzes are where most collectors start.

• Sestertii add drama to any cabinet.

• Aurei and solidi, if you’re lucky enough, are crown jewels.

It’s not just about owning coins—it’s about building a timeline of Rome itself.

Conclusion: More Than Currency

Roman coins weren’t just money. They were miniature storytellers. The denarius whispered of commerce and soldiers’ pay. The sestertius shouted Rome’s glory with its massive portraits. The aureus glittered with imperial power.

When you learn the types, you don’t just recognize coins—you start to see the empire’s heartbeat. And as collectors, that’s the joy: holding, comparing, and connecting with coins that carried Rome’s story across centuries.