Ancient Coins: The Denarius
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- Опубліковано 2 лип 2021
- The Denarius, this tiny silver coin has had a huge impact on monetary standards up to our days. Lets explore the history of this very famous denomination, from its origins in the 3rd Century BC as a trade tool with the Greeks, all the way to its demise in the 3rd Century AD.
Link to the video on roman hyperinflation mentioned:
• Ancient Coins: Roman H...
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I'm older. When eBay became popular I was buying Roman denari between $10 and $80.
I was also a hound for unwashed Roman coins.
I bought them by the pound, and sometimes by the kilo.
Now I'm 70, and I'm starting to break out the coins I didn't get to.
A man needs a hobby 😎
Just ordered my first Denarius last night off of MA shop. It is Augustus with Gaius and Lucius on the reverse. Very excited to get it. Thanks for your content!
Wonderful way to start a Roman imperial collection, hope you enjoy it!
Why do legendary channels like this one teach me more than school does?
Because it is not convenient for the political class worldwide to teach people about the history of money, how money truly works, and how certain policies nowadays steal purchasing power from the masses without them even knowing :)
Wait wait wait, schools teach things?
You simply don’t listen and put effort into learning. It’s not the school’s fault you might be failing.
Lol because some people are inherently slow
I collect the denarius myself and my favorite is an aniepigraphic denarius of Augustus minted to commemorate his victory at Actium over Antony & Cleopatra.
I love this video, the history of the Denarius is a important watch for ancient coin collectors! Know I'm determined to seek out early Roman Republic silver coins!
This is my new focus. Just purchased a very nice 124BC Helmeted Roma example.
@@hotshotslayer
Yes, your coin has amazing history, in my collection I've acquired a "Victory" on Obv and a "Legionary Eagle" on the Reverse.
@@BopWalk That’s a very nice pick up indeed!
It's fascinating just to have some ancient silver, and to think about how it was mined by some ancient workers. Maybe it was melted down by silver taken after some conquest.
Beautiful videos. Worthy content for a university lecture.
Thanks for the kind words! I dont know if its university-worthy, but I try making it the best I can :)
Ah to have a Denarius of Caesar... A classic wish that only becomes real for very few.
Numismatics and the coin market are a game of patience and timing, you might get one someday ;)
@@ClassicalNumismatics And a lot of money. Unfortunately a good Denarius of Caesar is way beyond my capabilities... But at least I can enjoy your videos for free, that's nice too
Excellent video onThe Denarius. So much info. I have a lot to learn.
Thanks, glad you liked it! Indeed, its a very vast field, I still only know a fraction of what´s out there to learn
As for me, I love the denarii from Hadrian's "travel series".
These are lovely! I´ve been on the lookout for a Hispania reverse but they always seem to hammer at a very hefty sum
@@ClassicalNumismatics I recently managed to bid on a denarius commemorating Hadrian's stay in Egypt - "AEGYPTOS" :-)
I think that Hadrian's travel series coins (not just denarii) would be great material for one of your next YT episodes. What do you think about it? :-)
Absolutely! The hardest part is getting footage of all the coins, but it will happen eventually, for sure! :)
Nice presentation as always! I have a small addition to make about the silver coins used in Republican times, as the denarius co-existed for some time 221-170 BC with the silver 'Victoriatus', which was worth half of a quadrigatus and therefore lighter and more debased than the first denarius. They didn't remain in circulation for long, as the denarius became the standard silver coin. I also love how much impact the denarius has had on modern money. Many countries still use the 'Dinar', which is derived from the word 'denarius'. Also, pre-decimal pennies from the UK were expressed in denarii, for instance a sum of 2 shilling and 6 pence was written as '2/6d', with the 'd' standing for denarius.
My favourite denarius is a denarius of Trajan depicting the Roman god of war, Mars, on the reverse. It’s closely followed by my first denarius, which is a denarius of Caracalla which features Indulgentia on the reverse.
Thank you for the wonderful video! I don’t have any coins but find it all fascinating and appreciate how you explain things in such a clear and approachable way.
Holy smokes those Augustus denarii must’ve cost a fortune! O_o
I’m still trying to find a decent Augustus denarius for under $1,000.
Favorite one in the collection right now is an example of Crawford 458/1 Julius Caesar denarius. The one with Aeneas holding his father minted in Caesar’s North African military camp
I can remember way back when,a dealer in Chicago,offered bags of 100 Denari for $300.00. Common ones in vg-fine mostly. There were always some lower grades of more scarce coins including Republican. I found a decent vg of Galba. No damage just wear.
Amazing! Sadly I entered the world of ancient coin collecting after this "golden age"
This is seriously well done. Such great content.
I like the legionary denari of Mark Antony. Not beautifully executed but historically interesting. I understand most examples are very well worn because a cash strapped Antony reduced the silver quality hence the coins stayed in circulation and did not end up in hordes (savings).
Its a very interesting coin type! Some are found on late second century hoards, almost completely worn flat, meaning they circulated for a solid two centuries before being stashed away.
Im loving your videos, learning very much. Thank you
Actually, the denarius isn't completely dead. It survives in one form, at least in spirit, in the form of currencies you find in the balkans, mediterranean and the middle east (no surprise, all of which were under roman control at some point). the word "dinar" comes from syriac dinara which itself comes from denarius
And in the same Arabic speaking spaces, the Greek "drachma" gave birth to the term dirham.
Extremely interesting content! Thanks! ✌🏾
Thank you, great video
I have an Augustus denarius, albeit of far worse condition, with a banker's mark "D" in nearly the same spot as yours.
I don't have many denarius coins so far in my collection, but I really enjoy my Alexander Severus denarius is in very good condition
Very interesting video. I only collect imperial denarii, so this is right up my alley.
Oh forgot to say that was a first class presentation. Thank you
Very nyc coin collection 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Love the show
I would like to have some Roman drachmai, but they are quite expensive
Me too! I have to say when the channel contributor who got me that footage told me he acquired a Didrachma, I was quite jealous!
If possible, one day I'd like to get the quadrigatus with the Janiform head, I love the style of these coins in particular
Your videos are great. Additionally, if you could perhaps add information flashing on the screen for the metal mintage and add a little info about what that amount would be able to purchase at those times, that'll make your greatly more interesting!!!
Ancient mintage numbers were not recorded apart from some exceptions, sadly. And price records are surprisingly had to find. Ive recently made a video about what you could buy at a local roman tavern and how much would it cost you. Check it out!
i found my first denarius while metal detecting! it's a domitian with an altar on the back
Really enjoyed the video and became a subscriber. Please consider adding comments about the value of each coin in the future for those of us looking to get into ancient coinage. Thanks
I have a Roman Republic 104 BC. Silver coin i 85691 , Roma Saturn chariot
The scylla is a VERY WELL KNOWN goddess, today she is celebrated by millions of westerners daily as they drink their coffee from STARBUCKS. Compare the design on your coin with the ORIGINAL Starbucks logo. Scylla over time morphed into Melusine.
😆
Good videos
Anything with Marcus Aurelius. I would love to have the Ides of March coin from Brutus.
What was the dimension measurements of a silver denarius at its height in the first century A.D.?
The high point of the denarius was during the republican period. Weighting around 3.9 grams of very fine silver, 97%-ish percent, as high as they could achieve with the technology of the time.
The first century AD saw reductions in weight and fineness with different emperors. At the end of the first century AD, under Trajan and Nerva, it was around 3.4 grams, 90-87% pure.
I just my first Aes Grave today... what a CHUNK to have to carry around for commerce.
Indeed! Imagine having to come up with change for that!
@@ClassicalNumismatics I am rummaging through old classical picture frames from the 80's to try and display it on my desk.
got that young bust of Hercules bronze coin but no clubs its smaller than this one with horseman in the river
I recently purchased a very pleasing Antoninus Pius denarius and it's weight is 3.27 grams.
Is this about the range it should be?
Absolutely love your channel ;)
3.27 is perfectly normal for these :)
@@ClassicalNumismatics Thank you so much for taking the time to answer!!
You...your channel was mentioned yesterday at the Cleveland Coin Expo.
It was all very positive conversation about your contribution to the hobby 😎
Can you tell me why my Julius Caesar denarius has BC stamped on the bust I found the coin digging fence posts in the UK many years ago. I have hundreds of coins now since I found my first denarius. My favourite denarius is an Elagabalus it’s in perfect condition and even has the faint rays from were it was struck.
It could be all sorts of reasons! Could be simple environmental damage, defects on striking, a countermark or a banker´s mark made on antiquity, each coin is unique, and who knows what they have been through!
Very good video with some remarkably nice examples of the denarius. I was just a tiny bit disappointed that you did not include some dialog and examples of the earliest denarius and its fractions with dioscuri reverse, a design that prevailed for the first several decades of the denarius. Nevertheless, you nicely summarized many important observations of the denarius through its nearly 500 years of use. Good work!
You will certainly forgive me for not having access to all coins out there :)
Thanks for the comment!
😏
Is a Domitian denarius of 91-92 A.D at 3.22g reasonable? I know that after 85 A.D the purity was returned to Nero's levels but I know that the mass was varied.
They didnt control the weight of silver coins to a very radical degree back then, and many coins have lost some metal content, either by natural wear or during the cleaning process after being found. A Domitian denarius of 3.22grams is perfectly reasonable.
@@ClassicalNumismatics at the same time an antoninianus of Aurelian 274 A.D (Siscia mint), weights 4.59 grams. A stark contrast of a currency debasement over the centuries of a decaying empire...
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I don't have a single denarius. Yet.
(I do have a drachm of Alexander though)
Gotta change that!
I own a silver denarius of Tiberius, the 2nd Roman Emperor. It has special n historical significance 4 me because it was a coin with his portrait that Jesus Christ utilized when he said, "Render unto Caesar...". n I'm a Christian.
My favorite roman denarius is “Gallia” Of Lucio Ostilio Saserna
That is a VERY interesting denarius. Some claim the bust of the man on the obverse might by Vercingetorix, its a really interesting type for sure.
@@ClassicalNumismatics yes, There are two types: I love both. The face of Gallia is so desperate; the face and eyes seem to be mirrored in terror. It’s so exacting
Excellent video, as usual. My favorite denarius, Commodus as Hercules.
I think I have, (after watching your helpful informative easy to follow vids) Caracalla AR denarius. ANTONINVSPIVSAVGBRIT on the obverse but on the reverse is a man with facing left with 2 'military standards' behind. I cant seem to find an further information. Could you help with any info or value?
Value is obviously highly dependent of how well preserved and visually appealing the coin is, but you are right, the AVG BRIT title is typical of Caracalla, so good job on a successful identification :)
That reverse if probably the PROFECTIO AVG type, so with that you should have enough information to look up similar examples on Biddr, Vcoins, Numisbids, MA Shops, etc, and get an estimate on what you coin is worth. Good luck!
Know your history…or be doomed to repeat it…
Very wise words. Lets hope central banks dont transform our modern currency into debased Antoninianii
@@ClassicalNumismatics they will weasel their way out of it with CBDCs, my stack of gold/silver is the only thing that lets me sleep at night
Thats why we stack! 💪
@@ClassicalNumismatics they already are doing this
Do you recommend slabbed coins over loose ?
For me nothing beats raw coins.
@@ClassicalNumismatics Absolutely agree. So many limitations to slabbed coins. Not just holding them, but viewing them through the plastic, storage and just the overall aesthetics. It's also nearly impossible to get a good photograph of a slabbed coin.
If I find a good example of a coin, I like that's slabbed. I'll carefully break it out of the slab and keep the paper slip with it for authenticity and information.
@@brysonthebisonking8801 me too
I. will. hunt. those. kind. of. old. coins
I have denarius 🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬
Very interesting video. Thank you. Are you Greek?
Brazilian :)
@@ClassicalNumismatics Ahh, I couldn't quite place the accent.