Roman currency
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Roman currency for most of Roman history consisted of gold, silver, bronze, orichalcum, and copper coinage. From its introduction during the Republic, in the third century BC, through Imperial times,
Denarius of Marcus Aurelius. Legend: IMP. M. ANTONINVS AVG. TR. P. XXV.
Bronze aes signatum produced by the Roman Republic after 450 BC
Coins of the Roman Republic and Empire from Cassell's History of England, Vol. I
The rapid decline in silver purity of the antoninianus
Post-reform radiate
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The post-reform radiate, was a Roman coin first issued by Diocletian during his currency reforms. The radiate looked very similar to the antoninianus, with a radiate crown, similar to the one worn by
A Roman copper alloy radiate of Constantius I (AD 293–306), dating to c. AD 303. Mint of Carthage. RIC VI, p. 427, no. 35a.