Roman coins » Late Gold and Silver
Late Roman Gold and Silver coinage
Constantine the Great introduced new gold and silver denominations. During the second half of the fourth century these new coins gave the Romans a significant precious metal coinage for the first time since the second or third century AD.
The Solidus
| There are 28 Solidi on validation/validated. | |
| Weight: 4.45g (or very close) Diameter: approx. 21mm Thickness: approx. 1mm Metal: Gold (Roman gold is a rich yellow rather than a pale yellow) Design: low relief Obverse: Mostly pearl-diademed headdress Reverse: Limited types, normally showing Victory, Roma or the Emperor(s) As UK finds: Rare, but most common from the time of Constantine the Great until the early 5th century. |
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The Siliqua
| There are 331 Siliquae on validation/validated. | |
| Weight: approx. 3g (earlier; unclipped) 0.8 – 2.3g (later; clipped) Diameter: up to 17mm (unclipped) as low as 10mm (clipped) Thickness: approx. 1mm Metal: Silver (pure) Design: low relief Obverse: Mostly pearl-diademed headdress Reverse: Limited types, normally showing Victory, Roma or the Emperor(s) As UK finds: Fairly rare. Early siliquae, produced between AD 324 and 356, are larger and heavier. Those struck from AD 358 until the early 5th century are smaller, lighter and often clipped. |
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