How to Identify Roman Bronze Coins: A Collector’s Guide
If you’ve ever tried to identify Roman bronze coins, you know it’s not always easy—but with a little know-how, those dark, worn pieces can reveal surprising stories. So, if you’ve ever dug through a box of uncleaned ancient coins or browsed eBay listings, you’ve probably seen a lot of brown or greenish coins labeled simply as “Roman bronze.” But what exactly are they? And how do you figure out what you’re holding?
I remember my first Roman bronze coin—it was heavy, a bit rough, and completely mysterious. I had no clue where to start. Over time, though, I learned how to break them down: metal, size, emperor, symbols, and legends.
If you’re just getting into Roman coins, this guide will help you identify Roman bronze coins step-by-step, using simple collector tips and visual clues.
🟤 Why Bronze?
Bronze was the workhorse of Roman coinage. While gold and silver coins were for wealth and trade, bronze was for the people. Everyday transactions — buying bread, paying soldiers, bribing temple guards (maybe) — happened in bronze.
Over time, Roman bronze coins evolved a lot, but most fall into three main categories:
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As (smallest)
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Dupondius
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Sestertius (largest)
Each type has clues that make it easier to identify.
🔍 Step-by-Step: How to Identify Roman Bronze Coins
1. Look at the Size and Weight
You don’t need a scale to get a rough idea, but it helps!
| Type | Diameter (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| As | 25–28 mm | Smallest common bronze coin |
| Dupondius | 27–29 mm | Similar to As, but often more yellow (due to brass alloy) |
| Sestertius | 30–35 mm | Large and heavy — if it’s big, it’s probably this |
⚠️ Note: Coins shrank over time, especially during the 3rd century. Later bronzes can be tiny and confusing.
2. Check the Color and Metal Tone
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As coins tend to be darker brown or green.
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Dupondii often have a more yellow or golden hue — they were made of orichalcum (a brass alloy).
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Sestertii also used orichalcum, so they sometimes show that same yellowish tone under the patina.
💡 Collector tip: Don’t clean the coin aggressively to see color — patina is part of the value.
3. Look for the Emperor’s Portrait
Most Roman bronze coins have a bust on the obverse (front). Even worn coins often show enough of the profile to guess:
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Beard or no beard? (helps with emperors like Hadrian or Marcus Aurelius)
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Crown or laurel wreath?
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Armor or drapery on shoulders?
If you can read even part of the inscription, match it with known imperial names:
Examples:
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IMP TRAIAN AVG GER DAC PM TRP COS VI PP→ Emperor Trajan -
IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG→ Gordian III
Use sites like Wildwinds or OCRE to match portraits and legends.
4. Check the Reverse: Symbols, Temples, Gods, Victory
The back of the coin is just as important. It can show:
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Victory (winged woman)
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Jupiter, Mars, or Roma with weapons or shields
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Military standards or captives (on Trajan’s coins)
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Temples, arches, or buildings
The reverse also often includes SPQR or phrases praising the emperor.
5. Spot the “SC”
Almost all Roman bronze coins struck by the Senate during the Empire include “SC”, which stands for Senatus Consulto (“by decree of the Senate”).
Usually, it appears somewhere on the reverse, especially on sestertii, dupondii, and asses.
🧠 If you see “SC,” that’s a good hint you’re looking at a Senate-issued bronze — not a provincial or silver coin.
📆 Time Period Clues: Early vs. Late Bronze Coins
| Era | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| 1st–2nd century AD | Large, clear coins with detailed portraits |
| 3rd century AD | Coins become smaller, lighter, and more rushed in design |
| 4th century AD | Bronze coins often called AE1, AE2, AE3, AE4 based on size |
🧭 AE1 = biggest, AE4 = smallest
🧰 Helpful Tools & Resources
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Wildwinds.com – Great for browsing by emperor
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ForumAncientCoins.com – Community help & fake warnings
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Tesorillo.com – Size-based bronze coin reference (especially for AE coins)
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CoinArchives.com – Auction results and high-quality images
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
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❌ Assuming bigger = more valuable – Some small coins are rarer than big ones
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❌ Over-cleaning – Can destroy fine details and tank value
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❌ Ignoring the reverse – Sometimes that’s where the ID magic is!
🔗 Related Articles on Numis Don
🧠 Final Thoughts
Roman bronze coins might not have the shine of gold or the allure of silver, but they have something better — stories. They were the everyday currency of the Roman world, passed from market stalls to legionnaires to temples.
Learning how to identify them is like learning a new language — once you start seeing the patterns, it clicks. So next time you pick up a brown coin with a faint emperor face and a cryptic Latin ring, don’t put it down. That could be a piece of real Roman history.
