How to Identify Roman Coins

Use the size and weight to determine the denomination of the coin. This is not always able to be done, especially by beginner collectors. See Resources to get an idea of how Roman denominations worked. Roman coin materials, like brass, copper and gold, changed over time; for example a BC sestertius was made from silver, while an AD sestertius was made out of brass. If you can’t determine the denomination, you may still be able to identify the coin. It will just be a bit more difficult to determine the other factors.

Read the inscriptions on the front and back of the coin. These inscriptions are meant to honor or identify the person or image on the coin. The inscriptions are in Latin and, since there is very little space on a coin, they are almost always abbreviated. Some common abbreviations are “AVG” meaning Augustus, or emperor, “IMP” meaning Imperator, a military title, and “C” for Caesar, originally meaning a familial relationship to Julius Caesar but later just another title for emperor. Record the inscriptions carefully, since they can give major clues as to when the coin was minted.

Use the image on the front of the coin to determine the issuer of the coin. Most Roman coins will have an image of the emperor or empress that issued them. Determine if the person is facing right or left. Determine if the image is a head, an image of the head and neck or a bust--an image of the head and shoulders. If the figure has a laurel wreath on its head, the image is considered “laureate.” If the figure is wearing a crown, the image is considered “radiate.” Use these observances to narrow down the list of potential emperors and empresses that could be on the coin.

Examine the image on the back. It is often much more difficult to determine. It can be anything from an emperor, to a god or even just a place or thing. The inscription on the rear of the coin will often give clues as to what the image is.

Examine the back of the coin for mint marks. The marks are located in the space below the design on the back of the coin. Not all coins have these marks, though most of the later Roman coins do. There are normally three letters that designate the mint where the coin was struck. Some of these letters may be Greek, which means the coin was struck in the eastern part of the Empire.