Roman coins » Denominations
Roman Nummi
In AD 295, the emperor Diocletian replaced radiates with a new copper-alloy coin. During the fourth century, the size and weight of this new coin was gradually reduced and smaller denominations were also struck. None of the Roman names for these coins survive, so it is easiest to refer to them all as nummi (singular = nummus).
There are 41546 nummi recorded on the database (either on validation or validated.)
Roman nummi arranged to demonstrate their relative sizes.
| The earliest nummi (issued by Diocletian and his colleagues between about AD 295 and 310) are about 25mm in diameter and up to 10g in weight. Although similar to earlier copper alloy denominations in size, they differ greatly in appearance. The portrait is struck in much lower relief and shows a brutal and less individualistic image of the emperor. |  |
| The hair, laureate wreath and dress of the emperors are very different to those on earlier coins. It is often almost impossible to distinguish the portrait of one emperor from the next. |  |
| Between AD 330 and 335, a number of coins were produced that did not carry the portrait of the Emperor (then Constantine the Great) or any of the members of his family. Instead they showed the helmeted heads of Constantinopolis' (the city of Constantinople ) or Roma (the city of Rome ). These coins were made to commemorate the foundation of the new city of Constantinople in modern Turkey . These coins are extremely common as UK finds. |  |
| During the fourth century the laureate headdress of the emperors is gradually replaced by the pearl-diadem. |  |
| By the end of the century the nummus had been reduced in size and weight. Late coins like this one are often only about 10 mm in diameter. |  |
