Roman Coins - Color, Facts, Power, Mythology, History And Myths

Coins were introduced in Italy for various reasons. While the obvious reason was to make transactions easier, there were other utilities of coins in the olden days. Roman coins were first released for the public in late 4th century BC and for the next eight centuries continued to be minted in various denominations and values. Roman coins became very popular not just within the Roman Empire but also across the world. Today they are considered collectors’ item worth thousands of dollars. Apart from being used for economic purposes, Roman Coins were also used as a means to propagate the leadership of the day. Coins would often carry images of the present emperors as well as famous monuments. This was considered a great way to show people spread far and wide who their rulers were and images of their famous monuments.  

The first Roman coins were made of bronze and were of small denominations. They were released by Neopolis in 326BCE and carried the symbol of the legend PΩMAIΩN. Silver coins came later in the 3rd century and were inspired by Greek coins. Gold coins were introduced but were sparingly used. Silver coins became popular by 3rdcentury CE.

Roman coins have been used by different emperors for various reasons. They have been used to promote the current emperors (one of the most common reasons), to show the strength of the empire, etc. Though different denominations have been used throughout history, they continue to be very popular even today. It is easy to find Roman coins in many European countries such as Italy, Spain, France, Great Britain, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Asian countries such as Syria and Turkey. Roman coins can also be found in Egypt. If you are living elsewhere you may need to spend more to get one of these coins. It is important to remember that the older the coin is, the more expensive it is likely to be. There are of course other factors that must be taken into consideration such as the value of the coin and the metal used in the coin.

How to Buy Roman Coins

If you are keen on buying coins, there are several things you have to keep in mind. The first thing naturally is the budget you allocate for coin collection. You may need to spend as much as $6000 dollars though you are also likely to get a denarius (standard Roman coin which was introduced during the Second Punic War c. 211 BC) for $20. Sestertius coins (small, silver coin issued only on rare occasions)can be slightly expensive whereas bronze coins are cheaper.    

Roman Coin Jewelry

While you can get Roman coins as independent collectible items, there is also a large market for coin jewelry around the world. Roman coin jewelry is very popular in this market. These antique coins are mostly used as pendants though rings are not uncommon. You can find Roman coins in various online jewelry stores. They come in various sizes and are made using gold, silver or platinum. Sterling silver chains and roman coins look exceptionally good simply as if they were designed to be united as jewelry items!