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.

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.

Comparison chart of late Roman AE coin sizes with actual scale. Four circles labeled AE1 to AE4 showing increasing sizes from smallest to largest, with measurements for each. AE1 is 27 mm, AE2 23 mm, AE3 19 mm, and AE4 15 mm. The chart notes print at 100% for accurate sizing.

Roman Bronze Coins (AE1–AE4)

Comparison chart of Roman silver coin sizes, showing the dimensions of a Denarius and an Antoninianus (ANT). The Denarius has an 18.5 mm diameter with a typical range of 17-19 mm, while the Antoninianus has a 22.0 mm diameter with a typical range of 21-23 mm. A 20 mm scale bar indicates the actual size for reference.

  • 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.

Roman Silver Coins

A chart showing the true size of various Greek silver coin denominations, including large silver coin, double drachm, standard silver coin, small fractional, and very small fractional coins, with their respective diameters and descriptions.

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.