EX PRETERITUS

Roman Coins by Ruler

This section is arranged by ruler, then by type. The denarius, sestertius, dupondius and as, fell into disuse gradually and by the mid 3rd century the Antoninianus was practically the only coin being produced. The denarius had dropped to less than 50% silver by the time of it's demise about 250 AD, and it's succesor, the antoninianus, though starting off with about 50% silver, soon became a worthless bronze coin before 270. Reforms were made to the coinage by Aurelian and Diocletian and the Follis became the standard coin, usually silver washed, though this became smaller and more worthless under the reign of Constantine. Silver was reintroduced in 345 and that lasted until the year 400. To date, no attributable coins have been recovered by us later than early in the reign of Gratian ( 367-383)