What Is a Reverse Type?

The reverse is the back side of a coin, opposite the portrait of the ruler on the obverse. The image and accompanying inscription on the reverse are known collectively as the reverse type.

Unlike modern coins, whose reverses often remain unchanged for decades, Roman reverse designs varied enormously. An emperor might issue dozens, or even hundreds, of different reverse types during his reign, each chosen to communicate a specific message.

Why Did Roman Emperors Change Reverse Designs?

Nearly every reverse was chosen to communicate a message, whether celebrating a military victory, emphasizing a religious belief, promoting an imperial virtue, or commemorating an important event.

Because coins circulated throughout the empire, they became one of the Roman government's most effective forms of mass communication.

Gods and Goddesses

Roman religion appears on thousands of coin reverses. These deities were not merely decorative. They reinforced the emperor's relationship with the divine and reminded citizens that Rome enjoyed the favor of the gods.

Jupiter

Usually shown standing with a thunderbolt and scepter, Jupiter symbolized supreme authority, divine protection, and victory. He appears frequently on the coinage of Diocletian, Maximian, and the rulers of the Tetrarchy.

Mars

The god of war. Mars commonly appears armed with spear and shield, representing military strength, courage, and Rome's readiness to defend its borders.

Sol

The sun god became especially prominent during the third century. Emperor Aurelian elevated the worship of Sol Invictus ("The Unconquered Sun"), and Constantine continued to feature Sol on portions of his early coinage after AD 312 while Christian symbolism appeared only gradually. Even after his conversion, traditional Roman imagery remained on many of his coins for years.

Hercules

Often shown holding his club and lion skin, Hercules symbolized strength, endurance, and heroic virtue. Several emperors claimed a special connection with him, most notably Maximian.

Minerva

The goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare. Her presence often emphasized prudent leadership rather than brute military force.

Personifications

Rather than depicting actual gods, many Roman reverses featured abstract virtues and ideals personified as female figures. These figures communicated the qualities every emperor hoped to associate with his reign.

Victory (Victoria)

Perhaps the most common reverse figure in Roman coinage. Victory is typically shown as a winged goddess carrying a wreath, palm branch, or trophy, celebrating military success and Rome's triumph over its enemies.

Pax

The goddess of peace. Pax appears holding an olive branch or scepter, symbolizing the peace achieved through Roman strength.

Felicitas

The personification of prosperity and good fortune. Her appearance promised abundance and stability under the emperor's rule.

Providentia

Representing foresight and wise planning, Providentia reminded citizens that the emperor carefully governed the empire's future.

Aequitas

Aequitas represented fairness and honest administration. She frequently holds scales and a cornucopia.

Annona

Annona symbolized the grain supply that fed the city of Rome. She often appears with grain ears, a modius, or a ship's prow.

Roma

The personification of the city of Rome itself. Usually shown wearing a helmet and military dress, Roma embodied the eternal strength of the Roman state.

Military Reverse Types

Military imagery reminded citizens, and Rome's enemies, of the empire's power.

Soldiers and Standards

Two soldiers standing beside one or two military standards became one of the defining reverse types of Constantine's coinage.

It celebrated the loyalty and strength of the Roman military during the Constantinian dynasty.

Camp Gates

One of the most recognizable Late Roman reverse types. These stylized fortified gateways probably represented the security of the empire's frontiers rather than specific buildings. Historians continue to debate whether these designs depict literal fortifications, symbolic city gates, or generalized military architecture, but they are widely understood as symbols of imperial security.

Emperor on Horseback

This dramatic reverse portrayed the emperor as a victorious military commander defeating Rome's enemies. It reinforced the emperor's role as protector of the empire.

FEL TEMP REPARATIO

One of the most famous reverse legends in Roman numismatics is FEL TEMP REPARATIO.

Introduced under Constantius II and Constans beginning in AD 348, the FEL TEMP REPARATIO series included several different reverse designs, all celebrating the restoration of the Empire after periods of instability.

Today, the Fallen Horseman type is among the most widely collected Roman coins.

Christian Reverse Types

As Christianity spread throughout the empire, Roman coinage gradually reflected the new faith.

Although Constantine's early coinage remained heavily influenced by traditional Roman imagery, later fourth-century and Byzantine coins increasingly displayed explicitly Christian symbolism.

Buildings and Architecture

Some reverses commemorated Rome's impressive public architecture.

Bridges, such as those commemorating major engineering achievements under emperors like Trajan, also appear on certain Roman issues, though they are much less common.

Animals

Animals also carried symbolic meaning.

The eagle was especially significant because it served as the standard (aquila) of every Roman legion, making it one of the Empire's most powerful military symbols.

Reverse Legends Matter Too

Collectors should pay close attention not only to the image but also to the inscription.

These often identify the message of the reverse just as clearly as the artwork itself. Two coins with similar figures may represent very different ideas depending on the legend that accompanies them.

Common Roman Reverse Types at a Glance

How to Identify a Reverse Type

When examining a Roman coin, ask yourself several simple questions.

Even if you cannot immediately identify the reverse, these observations will often narrow the possibilities dramatically.

Why Reverse Types Matter

Roman reverse designs reveal what emperors wanted their subjects to believe. Victory proclaimed military success. Pax promised peace. Felicitas celebrated prosperity. Providentia emphasized wise leadership. Christian symbols reflected profound religious change. Each reverse tells us something about the political priorities, religious beliefs, and historical events of its time.

For collectors, learning reverse types opens an entirely new dimension of the hobby. Instead of seeing only portraits of emperors, you'll begin recognizing the stories Rome chose to tell about itself. The next time you hold an ancient Roman coin, don't stop at the emperor's portrait. Turn it over.

You may be looking at a message that has traveled through history for nearly two thousand years.

History wasn't just written. It was minted.