| Revision as of 15:43, 6 February 2021 editSpicemix (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users92,025 edits →top: MOS:FOREIGNITALICS← Previous edit | Revision as of 20:57, 21 May 2021 edit undoTom.Reding (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Template editors3,822,848 editsm +{{Authority control}} (1 ID from Wikidata), WP:GenFixes onTag: AWBNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Other uses|Aureus (disambiguation)}} | {{Other uses|Aureus (disambiguation)}} | ||
| ⚫ | {{Italic title}} | ||
| {{ |
{{More citations needed|date=January 2008}} | ||
| ] to celebrate ], the legion that proclaimed him emperor]] | ] to celebrate ], the legion that proclaimed him emperor]] | ||
| The '''''aureus''''' (<small>{{abbr|pl.|plural}}</small> '''''aurei''''', 'golden', used as a noun) was a ] of ] originally valued at 25 pure silver '']''. The ''aureus'' was regularly issued from the 1st century BC to the beginning of the 4th century AD, when it was replaced by the '']''. The ''aureus'' was about the same size as the ''denarius'', but heavier due to the higher ] of ] (as opposed to that of ]). | The '''''aureus''''' (<small>{{abbr|pl.|plural}}</small> '''''aurei''''', 'golden', used as a noun) was a ] of ] originally valued at 25 pure silver '']''. The ''aureus'' was regularly issued from the 1st century BC to the beginning of the 4th century AD, when it was replaced by the '']''. The ''aureus'' was about the same size as the ''denarius'', but heavier due to the higher ] of ] (as opposed to that of ]). | ||
| Before the time of ] the ''aureus'' was struck infrequently, probably because gold was seen as a mark of un-Roman luxury.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} Caesar struck the coin more often, and standardized the weight at <math>\tfrac{1}{40}</math> of a ] (about 8 ]s). ] (r. 29 BC – 14 AD) tariffed the value of the '']'' as <math>\tfrac{1}{100}</math> of an ''aureus''. |
Before the time of ] the ''aureus'' was struck infrequently, probably because gold was seen as a mark of un-Roman luxury.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} Caesar struck the coin more often, and standardized the weight at <math>\tfrac{1}{40}</math> of a ] (about 8 ]s). ] (r. 29 BC – 14 AD) tariffed the value of the '']'' as <math>\tfrac{1}{100}</math> of an ''aureus''. | ||
| The mass of the ''aureus'' was decreased to <math>\tfrac{1}{45}</math> of a pound (7.3 g) during the reign of ] (r. 54–68). At about the same time the purity of the silver coinage was also slightly decreased. | The mass of the ''aureus'' was decreased to <math>\tfrac{1}{45}</math> of a pound (7.3 g) during the reign of ] (r. 54–68). At about the same time the purity of the silver coinage was also slightly decreased. | ||
| Line 15: | Line 16: | ||
| The ''solidus'' was reintroduced by ] (r. 306–337) in 312 AD, permanently replacing the ''aureus'' as the gold coin of the Roman Empire. The ''solidus'' was struck at a rate of 72 to a Roman pound of pure gold, each coin weighing twenty-four Greco-Roman carats, or about 4.5 grams of gold per coin. By this time, the ''solidus'' was worth 275,000 of the increasingly debased ''denarii''. | The ''solidus'' was reintroduced by ] (r. 306–337) in 312 AD, permanently replacing the ''aureus'' as the gold coin of the Roman Empire. The ''solidus'' was struck at a rate of 72 to a Roman pound of pure gold, each coin weighing twenty-four Greco-Roman carats, or about 4.5 grams of gold per coin. By this time, the ''solidus'' was worth 275,000 of the increasingly debased ''denarii''. | ||
| However, regardless of the ''size'' or ''weight'' of the ''aureus'', the coin's purity was little affected. Analysis of the Roman ''aureus'' shows the purity level usually to have been near to 24 ] gold, so in excess of 99% pure. |
However, regardless of the ''size'' or ''weight'' of the ''aureus'', the coin's purity was little affected. Analysis of the Roman ''aureus'' shows the purity level usually to have been near to 24 ] gold, so in excess of 99% pure. | ||
| {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1.5em;" | {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1.5em;" | ||
| Line 52: | Line 53: | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| <references /> | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| {{Commons|Aureus}} | {{Commons|Aureus}} | ||
| * | * | ||
| {{Roman coinage}} | {{Roman coinage}} | ||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ⚫ | {{ |
||
Revision as of 20:57, 21 May 2021
For other uses, see Aureus (disambiguation).
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Aureus" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The aureus (pl. aurei, 'golden', used as a noun) was a gold coin of ancient Rome originally valued at 25 pure silver denarii. The aureus was regularly issued from the 1st century BC to the beginning of the 4th century AD, when it was replaced by the solidus. The aureus was about the same size as the denarius, but heavier due to the higher density of gold (as opposed to that of silver).
Before the time of Julius Caesar the aureus was struck infrequently, probably because gold was seen as a mark of un-Roman luxury. Caesar struck the coin more often, and standardized the weight at of a Roman pound (about 8 grams). Augustus (r. 29 BC – 14 AD) tariffed the value of the sestertius as of an aureus.
of a 
of an aureus.
The mass of the aureus was decreased to of a pound (7.3 g) during the reign of Nero (r. 54–68). At about the same time the purity of the silver coinage was also slightly decreased.
of a pound (7.3 g) during the reign of 
After the reign of Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) the production of aurei decreased, and the weight fell to of a pound (6.5 g) by the time of Caracalla (r. 211–217). During the 3rd century, gold pieces were introduced in a variety of fractions and multiples, making it hard to determine the intended denomination of a gold coin.
of a pound (6.5 g) by the time of The solidus was first introduced by Diocletian (r. 284–305) around 301 AD, struck at 60 to the Roman pound of pure gold (and thus weighing about 5.5 g each) and with an initial value equal to 1,000 denarii. However, Diocletian's solidus was struck only in small quantities, and thus had only minimal economic effect.
The solidus was reintroduced by Constantine I (r. 306–337) in 312 AD, permanently replacing the aureus as the gold coin of the Roman Empire. The solidus was struck at a rate of 72 to a Roman pound of pure gold, each coin weighing twenty-four Greco-Roman carats, or about 4.5 grams of gold per coin. By this time, the solidus was worth 275,000 of the increasingly debased denarii.
However, regardless of the size or weight of the aureus, the coin's purity was little affected. Analysis of the Roman aureus shows the purity level usually to have been near to 24 karat gold, so in excess of 99% pure.
| Name | Gold content | Julius Caesar Aureus |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Caesar Aureus | 8.18 grams | 1.000 |
| Nero Aureus | 7.27 grams | 0.889 |
| Caracalla Aureus | 6.55 grams | 0.800 |
| Diocletian Aureus | 5.45 grams | 0.667 |
| Constantine Solidus | 4.55 grams | 0.556 |
| British Sovereign | 7.32 grams | 0.895 |
| USA Eagle 1837–1933 | 15.05 grams | 1.839 |
| USA Gold Dollar 1849–1889 | 1.51 grams | 0.184 |
| USA Gold Eagle 1986–present | 31.10 grams | 3.802 |
Due to runaway inflation caused by the Roman government's issuing base-metal coinage but refusing to accept anything other than silver or gold for tax payments, the value of the gold aureus in relation to the denarius grew drastically. Inflation was also affected by the systematic debasement of the silver denarius, which by the mid-3rd century had practically no silver left in it.
In 301, one gold aureus was worth 833⅓ denarii; by 324, the same aureus was worth 4,350 denarii. In 337, after Constantine converted to the solidus, one solidus was worth 275,000 denarii and finally, by 356, one solidus was worth 4,600,000 denarii.
Today, the aureus is highly sought after by collectors because of its purity and value, as well its historical interest. An aureus is usually much more expensive than a denarius issued by the same emperor. For instance, in one auction, an aureus of Trajan (r. 98–117) sold for $15,000, and a silver coin of the same emperor sold for $100. The most expensive aureus ever sold was one issued in 42 BC by Marcus Junius Brutus, the assassin of Gaius Julius Caesar, which had a price realized of $3.5 million in November 2020. (There is an example of this coin on permanent display at the British Museum in London.) An aureus, issued by the emperor Alexander Severus (r. 222–235), has a picture of the Colosseum on the reverse, and had a price realized of $920,000 in 2008. An aureus with the face of Allectus was auctioned off in the United Kingdom for £552,000 in June 2019.
See also
References
- The Imperial Roman Economy. "Hoarding, Gresham's Law and All That". www.forumancientcoins.com.
- "Goldberg Coins and Collectibles". Images.goldbergauctions.com. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
- "Goldberg Coins and Collectibles". Images.goldbergauctions.com. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
- "Metal detectorist 'ecstatic' after find on farm turns out to be ultra-rare Roman coin fetching £552,000 at auction". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
External links
| Coinage of Ancient Rome | |
|---|---|
| Proto-currency |
|
| Republican era | |
| Early Empire |
|
| Diocletian era | |
| Late Empire |
|
| Notable series | |