Roman Republic, Silver Denarius (Random Type)

The denarius was a Roman silver coin introduced during the Second Punic War in 211 BCE. These specific denarii were minted during the Roman Republic, before Rome was ruled by emperors. As a result, they generally do not depict living rulers, unlike later Roman denarii. Instead, they feature an assortment of deities—most commonly Roma, the personification of the city of Rome—and occasionally some legendary Roman kings. Julius Caesar was the first Roman ruler to have his portrait appear on Roman coinage, with his likeness first appearing on denarii in 44 BCE, during the final years of the Republic.

The denarius remained Rome's principal silver coin for centuries, making it one of the best-documented currencies of the ancient world. The Greek historian Polybius wrote that around 150 BCE, a Roman foot soldier's annual pay was equal to about 120 denarii. Later, the writers of the Bible also recorded insights into its purchasing power: laborers are paid one denarius for a day's work in the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, and in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, two denarii are given to an innkeeper to care for an injured man. Even so, determining the purchasing power of a denarius outside of these historical snapshots is difficult, as its value—like that of modern currency—depended on many factors.

Each includes one silver denarius of a random type minted during the time of the Roman Republic, as well as a Certificate of Authenticity.