Ancient Roman Republic Coins

The coins of the Roman Republic were made from actual precious metals blended with less valuable metal. Gold, silver, bronze and copper were all used in minting. Most modern coins don't contain actual precious metals, and therefore only have value assigned to them. While not pure, Roman coins have actual intrinsic value as well as the value indicated by the government.

The Roman Republic coins date as early as a few hundred years BC. Their design was determined by one of the three moneyers, noble men who had designs on a future political career. Initially there were always three moneyers, but during the time of Julius Ceasar a fourth was added.

The coins typically would have a picture depicting a scene of Roman greatness on one side, and notable deities (a common depiction was of Roma, the female personification of Rome) on the other. Eventually the moneyers would show their own famous ancestors of theirs on the coin, as a way to remind the general coin-holding public of his political legacy, so shore up support for future senate elections. These moneyer positions were appointed through the third century AD.