It is believed that the earliest coins in Rome were produced in the 4th century BC in Italy. Their minting continued for the next eight centuries throughout the empire. The first metal currencies were cast out of irregular lumps of bronze and called ‘aes rude’.
Later, they were replaced by ‘aes signatum’, large, decorated ingots of bronze. It was after this that smaller coins took over as currencies. The Romans also used silver coins. Gold coins were, however, known to be rare.
The images of emperors, gods, and goddesses were also seen in Roman currencies. It was Julius Caesar who first issued coins bearing his own portrait. This trend was copied by subsequent rulers.
According to Greek history, it was ‘electrum’, an alloy of gold and silver, that was first used as currency in Greece. It is believed that the finest coins were made in Syracuse, Sicily.
