Roman Antiques - Coins - Sculptures - Portraits

The main Roman currency during most of the Republic and the western half of the Roman Empire consisted of coins known as: the aureus (gold), the denarius (silver), the sestertius (bronze), the dupondius (bronze), and the as (copper).These were used from the middle of the second century BC until the middle of the third century AD, a remarkably long time.

They were still accepted as payment in Greek influenced territorries, even though these regions issued their own base coinage and some silver in other denominations. Either called Greek Imperial or Roman provincial coins.

During the third century AD, the denarius was replaced by the double denarius, sometimes known as the antoninianus or radiate, which was then itself replaced during the monetary reform of Diocletian which created denominations such as the argenteus (silver) and the follis (silvered bronze).

After the reforms Roman coinage consisted mainly of the gold solidus and small bronze denominations. This trend continued to the end of the Empire in the West.

Many aspects of the Roman culture were appropriated from the Ancient Greeks.

Roman sculpture was at its most original in the production of strongly characterized portraits. In architecture and sculpture, the continuity between Greek models and Roman imitations are apparent.

The chief Roman contribution to architecture was the arch, and the dome it made possible.

While much Roman sculpture was derivative of Greek models, and all deeply indebted to Greek techniques, the Roman character made portraiture the strongest and most original aspect of Roman sculpture.

Strongly characterized portrait busts like the surviving portrait bust of Cato the Elder is a clearly envisioned, strongly individual character, not an idealized type such as are typically found in Greek sculptures.