Drachmas Doubloons and Dollars: The History of Money
(Exhibition Home)
Ancient Rome
Introduction
Early Italian and Roman Republican Coinages (c. 500-88 BC) - Julius Caesar and the Late Republic (88-27 BC) - Augustus and the Roman Principate - Nero (AD 54-68) and Propaganda - Biblical Coins - Roman Provincial Coins - The Severan Family (AD 193-235) - Economic and Political Decline - The Late Roman Empire (AD 284-476)
The Late Roman Empire (AD 284-476)

In 294, Diocletian (AD 284-305) issued a new silver-clad nummus and, in 301, briefly imposed price ceilings. Although civil wars sparked debasement and inflation, later emperors repeatedly reformed the base-metal coinage and maintained the gold solidus introduced by Constantine (AD 306-337).
Bronze nummus (AD 296-297) of Diocletian. This denomination, originally covered by a wash of silver, replaced the debased antoninianus.
Gold medallion (c. AD 293) of the First Tetrarchy with portraits of the four emperors.
Bronze maiorina (AD 347-351) of Constantius II with a sliver wash, depicting the chilling message of "Restoration of Blessed Times" with a Roman soldier spearing a fallen barbarian horseman.
Gold solidus depicting the empress Licinia Eudoxia (AD 437-455).
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