Antoninianus

The Antoninianus was an ancient Roman silver coin of Emperor Caracalla ( 211-217 ) was introduced around 214 AD as its official currency.

The ancient name of the coin is not known. The name is derived from the name Antoninian Caracalla, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, and was introduced from the Middle Ages. According to recent research the ancient name of the Antoninianus Bicharactus should have been.

The Antoninianus developed in the 3rd century due to galloping inflation for most embossed coin and was only replaced by the coinage reform of Diocletian end of the 3rd century. In the meantime, Aurelian had tried to stabilize the Antoninians.

The Antoninianus had a nominal value of two denarii and early imprints a weight of about 5.5 grams. After the silver fineness calculated, he met from the beginning but only 1 ½ penny. In the course of time, weight and silver content reduced still further, so that it was towards the end of the century, only a tiny bronze coin without any silver content.

A salient feature of the Antoninianus was the radiate crown on the image of the ruler or the crescent moon under the picture of the Empress. Ever since around two centuries, these symbols have been marked as characteristics of double pieces on Roman coins, for example on the Dupondius.