How to Identify Roman Old Coins – A Beginner’s Collector Guide

Meta Title: How to Identify Roman Old Coins – Beginner’s Guide for Collectors
Meta Description: Learn how to identify Roman old coins using portraits, inscriptions, size, and mint marks. A simple guide to help collectors decode ancient Roman coins.

Have you ever held an old Roman coin in your hand and thought, “What is this thing… and who’s that worn-out face on it?” I know the feeling. The first time I bought a mixed lot of ancient coins, most of them looked like they’d been through a thousand years of mud—and, well, they had.

The good news? You can figure out what Roman coins you have, even if they’re crusty or worn. All it takes is a bit of patience, a good eye for details, and knowing what to look for. Let’s walk through how to identify Roman old coins using simple steps—no Latin degree required.

👁️ 1. Start With the Portrait – Who’s on the Coin?

Most Roman coins feature an emperor or empress on the obverse (that’s the front side). Even if the coin is worn, you can usually make out part of the face or head.

Ask yourself:

• Is he bearded? (Common in later emperors like Marcus Aurelius)

• Is there a wreath, crown, or helmet?

• Can you spot any letters around the edge?

Even a few visible letters can help you guess who’s on the coin. For example:

• IMP CAES HADRIANVS AVG → Hadrian

• DN CONSTANTINVS PF AVG → Constantine the Great

📌 Tip: Use free tools like Wildwinds.com to match partial inscriptions and portraits to real coin examples.

🏛️ 2. Flip It: What’s on the Reverse?

The back of a Roman coin often tells the rest of the story—and can help narrow down the identity.

Common things you might see:

• Victory (a winged woman holding a wreath or palm)

• Soldiers, captives, military standards

• Temples, arches, or Roman buildings

• Roman gods/goddesses like Mars, Roma, or Jupiter

If you can read part of the inscription, you’ll often find praise or titles like:

• PAX (peace)

• FEL TEMP REPARATIO (happy times are back)

• CONCORDIA, SALVS, FORTVNA — Roman personifications

🔡 3. Decode the Inscriptions (Legend)

Don’t worry if you can’t read Latin—most collectors can’t when they start. But if you can spot a few letters, they can guide you.

Here’s what some common abbreviations mean:

Even fragments like ...IANVS or ...TINVS can hint at names like Trajan or Constantine.

⚖️ 4. Consider the Size and Metal

Coins changed dramatically over time—especially as the empire declined. Earlier coins were bigger, heavier, and often better struck. Here’s a quick breakdown:

If your coin is thick and heavy, it might be a sestertius. If it’s small, dark, and lightweight, it’s likely from the late empire.

🧪 Use a small digital scale and caliper if you want to compare to known weights and diameters online.

🏙️ 5. Look for Mint Marks (Especially on Later Coins)

From the 3rd century onward, Roman mints started putting tiny mint marks on coins, usually in the bottom reverse area (called the exergue).

Common examples:

• ROM = Rome

• ANT = Antioch

• CON = Constantinople

• SMTS, SMHB, TRP = Sacra Moneta Thessalonica, Heraclea, Treveri (and more)

They often appear with dots or letters like •SMNA• (Sacra Moneta Nicomedia).

This info helps you figure out where and sometimes when the coin was struck.

❗ Common Mistakes When Identifying Roman Coins

• Thinking size = value — Some tiny coins are rarer than large ones.

• Assuming bronze = late — Not always true. Bronze was used throughout.

• Over-cleaning — Don’t do it! Patina is often a clue, not a flaw.

• Guessing based on shape alone — Always use multiple features: portrait + text + reverse + size.

🛠️ Helpful Tools for Beginners

• WildWinds.com – Search by emperor, type, or text

• ForumAncientCoins.com – Great for asking questions and avoiding fakes

• OCRE (Online Coins of the Roman Empire) – Scholarly but searchable

• Coin catalog books by David Sear – A must-have if you’re getting serious

🔗 Related Articles on Numis Don

• Identify Roman Bronze Coins

• Roman Coin Denominations Explained

• Ancient Coin Minting Techniques

• Fake Ancient Coins: A Collector’s Warning

• Rare Illyrian Coins

🧠 Final Thoughts

Roman coins may be old, worn, and mysterious—but they’re far from impossible to identify. Once you learn the basics—portraits, legends, symbols, and size—you’ll start recognizing patterns. That’s when collecting becomes addictive (in the best way).

So the next time someone hands you a corroded little coin and says “I think this is Roman,” you’ll be ready to smile, flip it, squint at the lettering, and say, “I think I know who this guy is.”