Ancient Coin Denominations — Simple Guide for Beginners

(Roman & Greek Coins Explained in Plain English)

Ancient coins often come with unfamiliar terms like AE3, Denarius, or Tetradrachm. These names are modern classification tools used by collectors and scholars today. Ancient people themselves did not shop using these labels the way we do now.

Here’s what they mean — simply.

Roman Bronze Coins (AE1–AE4)

AE comes from the Latin aes, meaning bronze.
The numbers 1–4 describe size only, not value.

  • AE1 – Large bronze coin
    Thick, impressive late Roman coins. Less common.
  • AE2 – Medium-large bronze coin
    Popular Constantinian and Late Roman issues.
  • AE3 – Medium bronze coin
    One of the most common ancient Roman coins.
    Excellent for beginners.
  • AE4 – Small bronze coin
    Late Roman issues. Smaller but fully authentic.

Important:
AE numbers are modern size categories, not ancient denominations.

Roman Silver Coins

  • Denarius
    The most famous Roman silver coin.
    Used for everyday transactions for centuries.
    When people imagine a “Roman silver coin,” this is usually it.
  • Antoninianus
    Introduced in the 3rd century AD.
    Originally silver, later silver-alloy or bronze.
    Often shows the emperor wearing a radiate crown.

You may see ANT used as shorthand.
This is a catalog abbreviation, not an ancient name.

Greek Silver Coin Denominations

(Based on Weight, Not “Face Value”)

Greek coins are named by weight, not by purchasing power.

  • Tetradrachm – Large silver coin
    The most famous Greek silver coin.
    Heavy, impressive, and widely used in trade.
  • Drachm – Medium silver coin
    Standard everyday silver coin in many Greek regions.
  • Didrachm – Double drachm
    Larger than a drachm, smaller than a tetradrachm.
  • Obol – Small silver coin
    Fractional coin used for smaller transactions.
  • Hemiobol / Tetrobol
    Very small fractional silver coins.

These names describe weight relationships, not spending power.

Why You Won’t See These Terms in Our Titles

At Kinzer Coins, we prioritize clarity and trust.

You’ll see titles like:

  • Ancient Roman Bronze Coin of Emperor Constantine I
  • Ancient Greek Silver Coin from Athens

Instead of:

  • AE3 Reduced Follis
  • AR Tetradrachm
  • ANT Rome Mint

All technical details — AE size, denomination, metal, and weight — are clearly listed in the Specifications section.

The Most Important Thing to Remember

Every ancient coin we offer is:

  • Authentic
  • Individually unique
  • Historically significant
  • A real object from the ancient world

You don’t need to understand every denomination to start collecting.

You’re not buying a label.
You’re holding history.