How to Identify the Ancient Roman Coin

Begin with the obverse portrait. Roman imperial bronzes almost always show a head in profile, most often facing right, surrounded by an abbreviated Latin legend naming the ruler and his titles. Read as much of that legend as survives, letter by letter, since the name and titles are what ultimately attribute the coin to a specific reign. On this example the head faces right in the usual manner, but a firm attribution requires legible lettering, which worn coins frequently lack.

Turn to the reverse and identify the type. Roman bronze reverses typically show a standing or seated deity or personification, a figure, an animal, or a symbolic device, usually with its own legend and sometimes mint marks in the exergue below. Note what the figure holds and how it stands, and record any letters; the combination of reverse type and legend is often more diagnostic than the portrait for pinning down the issue and date.

Measure size, weight, and metal. Roman bronze denominations are separated mainly by module and mass rather than design, so use calipers and a scale and compare against published tables before naming a denomination. The metal should read as bronze — brown, green, or earthy — commonly with patina; genuine ancient surfaces show wear, corrosion products, and hard, stable patina rather than a fresh, uniform artificial finish.

Rule out look-alikes and later imitations. Provincial and later Roman bronzes, Byzantine coppers, contemporary ancient imitations, and modern tourist replicas can all resemble a classic imperial bronze. Compare the fabric, portrait style, and lettering against reference images; crude or blundered legends, wrong weight, or anachronistic style are warning signs.

Authenticate before assuming value. Cast forgeries show seams, bubbles, and soft detail; tooled or smoothed coins have unnatural fields. Because popular emperors and types are heavily faked, and because ancient coins carry provenance and export considerations, have any significant piece examined by a specialist in ancient numismatics and seek an attribution to a specific ruler, mint, and reverse type before relying on an identification or a price.