Roman Coin | Silver Antoninianus

History of the Artifact

The antoninianus, introduced in the early 3rd century CE, replaced the silver denarius as Rome faced economic instability and inflation. Officially valued at two denarii, it became known as the "double denarius," though its silver content was only slightly higher than that of a single denarius. This shift aimed to meet financial demands, especially for military expenses, but contributed to further currency devaluation over time.

These coins tell the story of the early stages of the fall of the Roman empire. As the empire’s finances began to dwindle and political instability became rampant, the Roman mints were unable to mint the needed quantities of pure silver content Denarii that had been produced in the Roman Empire since its inception. It was under Emperor Caracalla whose full name, Marcus Aurelius Antoninianus, would give name to this new coin, that the Antoninianus began minting. 

Larger in diameter than the Denarius, the Antoninianus is easily identifiable by the Radiate crown placed on each Emperor’s head featured on the coin. 

Initially, the silver debasement was minimal and hardly reflected on the silvery luster of the Antoninianii; over time, it had its silver content greatly reduced, until it had a mere 5% silver purity. 

The Antoninianus you will receive is from the early period of the silver debasement, meaning your coin’s silver content will still be high at 65-70 %, as seen in the pictures provided. The dates of the coins range between 215-250 AD.

How do I know these are original Roman coins?

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

What will my coin look like?

Your Roman coin will look very similar to the one shown in the photos. There will always be some variety, given our items are unique historical pieces. The display case included is openable so that you may easily handle and closely observe the artifact. If for whatever reason you get anything that does not fit this description you are entitled to your money back! 

Your order will include:

• One authentic Roman silver Antoninianus
• Elegant protective case for preservation and display of your artifact 
• Certificate of Authenticity

Ancient Artifacts relics are guaranteed authentic and have a 100% money back policy. Read more about our Mission and Promise for authenticity.