Collector's Reference Guide

Ancient Coin
Denominations

Roman and Greek coins explained in plain English. These names are modern classification tools, not what ancient people used at market.
Roman Bronze AE1 to AE4 — Size, not value AE comes from the Latin aes, meaning bronze. The numbers 1 to 4 describe diameter only. They are modern collector categories, not ancient denominations.
Comparison chart of late Roman AE coin sizes at actual scale. AE1 = 27mm, AE2 = 23mm, AE3 = 19mm, AE4 = 15mm.
AE127 mm
Thick, impressive late Roman coins. Less common than smaller issues — a statement piece in any collection.
AE223 mm
Popular Constantinian and Late Roman issues. Strong visual presence with excellent detail retention.
AE319 mm
One of the most common ancient Roman coins. Ideal starting point — affordable, authentic, and widely available.
Best for first-time collectors
AE415 mm
Late Roman issues. Smaller but fully authentic — remarkable that so much history fits in so little space.
Remember: AE1 to AE4 are modern collector categories. No Roman soldier ever asked for an AE3. These labels help us organize and compare — nothing more.
See the sizes in hand
Roman AE1 bronze coin of Emperor Diocletian, NGC certified
AE1 · largest module Diocletian Bronze, AD 284 to 305
The heavy reform bronze. Struck for the emperor who ended the Third Century Crisis, built the Tetrarchy, then walked away from the throne.
View this coin →
Roman AE2 bronze coin of Theodosius I, NGC certified
AE2 · 23 mm Theodosius I Bronze, AD 379 to 395
The larger late Roman module, struck for the last emperor to rule both halves of the Roman world.
View this coin →
Roman AE3 bronze coin of Emperor Valens, NGC certified
AE3 · 19 mm Valens Bronze, AD 364 to 378
The classic first ancient coin. Valens is the eastern emperor who fell at Adrianople.
View this coin →
Roman AE4 bronze coin of Emperor Honorius, NGC certified
AE4 · 15 mm Honorius Bronze, AD 393 to 423
The smallest of the four. Honorius reigned while Rome itself was sacked, and this bronze circulated through those years.
View this coin →
Roman Silver Denarius and Antoninianus The two coins that defined Roman silver coinage for over three centuries — each instantly recognizable once you know what to look for.
Denarius~18.5 mm
The most famous Roman silver coin. Used for everyday transactions across centuries of empire. When people picture a Roman silver coin — this is it. Laureate portrait on the obverse.
The coin of Caesar, soldiers, and merchants alike
Antoninianus~22 mm
Introduced in the 3rd century AD. Originally silver, later silver-alloy or bronze as the economy strained. Key identifier: the emperor wears a radiate crown — a sunburst of spikes.
ANT is a catalog shorthand, not an ancient name
Comparison chart of Roman silver coin sizes. Denarius = 18.5mm. Antoninianus = 22.0mm.
How to tell them apart instantly: Radiate crown = Antoninianus. Laurel wreath = Denarius.
Train your eye on the crown
NGC certified Roman silver denarius of Trajan
Denarius · laurel Trajan Silver Denarius, AD 98 to 117
Struck when the empire reached its greatest extent. A textbook laureate portrait.
View this coin →
Silver denarius of Septimius Severus tied to Roman London
Denarius · everyday silver Septimius Severus Denarius, c. AD 200
The denarius doing the job it was made for, from the emperor who strengthened Roman Britain.
View this coin →
Roman silver antoninianus of Philip II, NGC certified
Antoninianus · radiate Philip II Antoninianus, AD 247 to 249
Third century silver with the spiked radiate crown. Put it beside the Trajan and the difference reads instantly.
View this coin →
Greek Silver Weight-based denominations Greek coins are named by weight, not purchasing power. A Tetradrachm weighs four times a Drachm — the name is literally a weight relationship.
Chart showing true sizes of Greek silver coin denominations including Tetradrachm, Didrachm, Drachm, Obol and smaller fractional coins.
Tetradrachm4x drachm
The most famous Greek silver coin. Heavy, impressive, and widely used in international trade. Athens' Owl Tetradrachm was the dollar of the ancient Mediterranean.
DrachmStandard
The everyday silver coin across Greek city-states. A skilled craftsman earned roughly one drachm per day.
Didrachm2x drachm
Double drachm. Larger than a Drachm, smaller than a Tetradrachm. Common in early Roman coinage and certain Greek regions.
Obol / HemiobolFractional
Tiny silver coins for small daily transactions. The Widow's Mite in the Gospel of Mark is an obol-class coin — worth little, yet given completely.
Key principle: Greek denomination names describe weight relationships, not spending power. What a coin bought depended on time, region, and economy — not its name.
Weight you can hold
Athens silver tetradrachm, classical owl type, 449 to 413 BC
Tetradrachm · 4x drachm Athens Owl Tetradrachm, 449 to 413 BC
The coin named above. Struck at the height of Athenian power and accepted across the Mediterranean.
View this coin →
Metapontum silver stater, barley ear type, 330 to 280 BC
Stater · didrachm weight Metapontum Silver Stater, c. 330 to 280 BC
A stater at this standard carries the weight of two drachms, which is what collectors mean by a didrachm.
View this coin →
Massalia silver drachm, Artemis and lion type
Drachm · standard unit Massalia Silver Drachm, 2nd to 1st C. BC
The everyday unit, roughly a skilled worker's daily pay. Struck at the Greek colony that became Marseille.
View this coin →
No obol or hemiobol in stock, so the row runs tetradrachm, stater, drachm.
The Kinzer Coins Approach Why you will not see AE3 in our titles We prioritize clarity and trust. All technical details live in the Specifications section — not the headline.
What you will see
Ancient Roman Bronze Coin of Emperor Constantine I
Ancient Greek Silver Coin from Athens
Biblical Coin from the Time of Jesus
What you will not see
AE3 Reduced Follis, Trier Mint
AR Tetradrachm, circa 440 BC
ANT Rome Mint, Radiate, VF+
Authentic and individually unique
Historically significant
Fully documented with specifications
A real object from the ancient world
You are not buying a label.
You are holding history. You do not need to understand every denomination to start collecting.
Shop Authentic Coins New to Collecting