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Quiz about The Coinage of Ancient Rome
Quiz about The Coinage of Ancient Rome

The Coinage of Ancient Rome Trivia Quiz


Collecting ancient coins is a fascinating way to learn history. Most of us know something abount the Romans, but how much do you know about the coins they used in their everyday lives?

A multiple-choice quiz by daver852. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
daver852
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
98,681
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
12 / 20
Plays
864
Last 3 plays: calmdecember (9/20), Guest 94 (16/20), 1nn1 (20/20).
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Question 1 of 20
1. Before they began producing coins, the Romans used cast bronze ingots bearing raised designs, often depicting birds or animals, as a medium of exchange. What were these called? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. The first true coins of the Roman Republic were produced around what period of time? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. The first silver coin issued by the Romans was called a what? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. Around 211 b.c. a new silver coin was introduced which would continue to be minted for well over 400 years. What was it called? Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. In the days of the Republic and early Empire, the Romans usually expressed the cost of an item in terms of: Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. What was a "talent?" Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. What do the letters "S C" on a Roman coin indicate? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. During the period of the early Empire, what was the smallest denomination of coin issued by the Roman mints? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. All Roman coins were minted at Rome.


Question 10 of 20
10. Imperial Roman coins circulated in all provinces of the Empire except: Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. During which emperor's reign was nearly all silver removed from Roman coins? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. The standard gold coin of the early empire was the "aureus." How much gold did it contain? Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. In 312 a.d., the emperor Constantine the Great introduced a new coin to replace the aureus. What was it called? Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. The insciption "Consecratio" on a Roman coin indicates what? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. Which emperors issued a series of coins to commemorate the conquest of Judea? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. This Emperor, who came to power in 284 a.d., reformed the coinage and tried to institute wage and price controls. Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. Why are most coins of the Emperor Caligula rare? Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. One sometimes encounters a coin bearing the portrait of a Roman emperor, but with inscription in Greek instead of Latin. What are such coins called? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. Whose portrait never appeared on a Roman coin? Hint


Question 20 of 20
20. If you wanted to purchase a common type silver coin of the Emperor Gordian III (238-44 a.d.), in pristine mint condition, you should expect to pay (now, in 2002): Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Nov 02 2024 : calmdecember: 9/20
Oct 20 2024 : Guest 94: 16/20
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Before they began producing coins, the Romans used cast bronze ingots bearing raised designs, often depicting birds or animals, as a medium of exchange. What were these called?

Answer: Aes signatum

"Aes" is the Latin word for bronze.
2. The first true coins of the Roman Republic were produced around what period of time?

Answer: 280-260 b.c.

There is some dispute about the exact date, but it is certain that the Romans were issuing coins by 260 b.c.
3. The first silver coin issued by the Romans was called a what?

Answer: didrachm

When Rome began issuing its coinage, the economy of Italy was dominated by various Greek colonies. So the Romans issued their first coins on the Greek standard.
4. Around 211 b.c. a new silver coin was introduced which would continue to be minted for well over 400 years. What was it called?

Answer: denarius

There was a Roman coin called an argentus, but it was minted only briefly during the latter stages of the Empire. Our word "penny" is derived from "denarius."
5. In the days of the Republic and early Empire, the Romans usually expressed the cost of an item in terms of:

Answer: sesterces

The sestertius (pl. sesterces) was a large bronze coin worth 1/4 of a denarius. If Cicero or Augustus were to tell you how much something cost, he would have said it was so many sesterces. During the latter days of the Empire, say the 4th century a.d. onwards, things were usually priced in terms of denarii.

In the movie "The Robe," Richard Burton bids "5000 pieces of gold," for a slave; the Romans would never have done this.
6. What was a "talent?"

Answer: A unit of weight

In the movie "Ben-Hur," Messala wagers 1000 talents (presumably of silver) on the outcome of the chariot race. It's difficult to know how much this sum represents, because there were royal talents, common talents, Roman talents, Attic talents, Jewish talents, etc. Furthermore, no one can seem to agree exactly how much a talent weighed.

A good guess for a Roman talent would be 50 to 60 pounds.
7. What do the letters "S C" on a Roman coin indicate?

Answer: It was minted by the authority of the Senate

The letters stand for "senatus consulto," or "by the decree of the Senate." During the early days of the Empire, the minting of gold and silver coins was under control of the emperor, but the Senate retained responsibility for minting bronze coins.
8. During the period of the early Empire, what was the smallest denomination of coin issued by the Roman mints?

Answer: quadrans

The quadrans was a tiny coin worth 1/4 of a copper as; two quadrans equalled a semis; two semis equalled an as; two asses equalled a dupondius; four asses equalled a sestertius; four sesterces equalled a denarius; and 25 denarii equalled an aureus. These values are correct for the 1st century a.d. The quadrans would pay for admission to a public bath or latrine.
9. All Roman coins were minted at Rome.

Answer: False

Throughout the history of the Republic and the Empire, coins were minted in at least 40 cities, and probably more. The mint in Rome was located in the temple of Juno Moneta, which is the source of our word "money."
10. Imperial Roman coins circulated in all provinces of the Empire except:

Answer: Egypt

Egypt kept its own system of coinage, based on the Greek drachm, until 296 a.d. Egypt lost its unique monetary system during the reforms of Diocletian.
11. During which emperor's reign was nearly all silver removed from Roman coins?

Answer: Gallienus

When Gallienus (253 - 268 a.d.) became Emperor, the coinage was already very debased. During his disastrous reign almost all silver was removed. He tried to disguise this fact by issuing copper coins which were silver-plated.
12. The standard gold coin of the early empire was the "aureus." How much gold did it contain?

Answer: About 1/5 oz

Unlike the silver coinage, Roman gold coins continued to be minted from good metal through the history of the Empire, undergoing only minor debasement. The weight of the aureus did tend to fluctuate a bit, but it was usually minted at 60 aureii to the Roman pound, which works out to about 1/5 oz of precious metal.
13. In 312 a.d., the emperor Constantine the Great introduced a new coin to replace the aureus. What was it called?

Answer: solidus

The solidus was minted at 72 to the pound, so it was about 20% lighter in weight than the aureus. The solidus continued to be minted until the fall of the Empire.
14. The insciption "Consecratio" on a Roman coin indicates what?

Answer: It is a posthumous issue

These coins were issued to honor deceased emperors and members of their families. They often depict a funeral pyre, a phoenix or some other symbol or rebirth.
15. Which emperors issued a series of coins to commemorate the conquest of Judea?

Answer: Vespasian and Titus

Vespasian was the Roman general who suppressed the Jewish rebellion; his son, Titus, commanded the Roman troops who captured the fortress of Massada. The coins in this series are eagerly sought by collectors; many show a Jewess mourning at the base of a palm tree, and the legend "Iudea Capta."
16. This Emperor, who came to power in 284 a.d., reformed the coinage and tried to institute wage and price controls.

Answer: Diocletian

Diocletian introduced a new coin called the "follis." The old bronze coins were no longer issued, since inflation had made them valueless. Interestingly enough, things were still priced in terms of denarii, even though the denarius was no longer issued.

His wage and price controls didn't work, but his edict was valuable, because it gives us some idea of the price of various items during his reign.
17. Why are most coins of the Emperor Caligula rare?

Answer: They were recalled by the Senate and melted down

After his death, the Senate decreed (among other things) that all of Caligula's coins be recalled from circulation and melted down. Although his reign lasted only about four years, his coins are much scarcer than those of Titus, who reigned for only two years.
18. One sometimes encounters a coin bearing the portrait of a Roman emperor, but with inscription in Greek instead of Latin. What are such coins called?

Answer: Greek Imperial coins

Up until the end of the 3rd century a.d., many cities in the eastern provinces were granted the privilege of strinking their own bronze coins for local use. Since Greek was the language spoken in the East, the legends on the coins are in Greek.
19. Whose portrait never appeared on a Roman coin?

Answer: Cassius

Cassius did issue coins during the Civil War, but they bear the head of Liberty, not his portrait. The others all issued portrait coinage.
20. If you wanted to purchase a common type silver coin of the Emperor Gordian III (238-44 a.d.), in pristine mint condition, you should expect to pay (now, in 2002):

Answer: Less than $50

One of the first lessons a coin collector learns is that old does not equal valuable. An "antoninianus," a silver coin worth two denarii and about the size of a nickel, can be purchased for as little as $20 or $30. Not only coins of Gordian III, but those of many other 3rd century emperors are very inexpensive.

A similar coin of Gordian I, however, would set you back $2000 or more; he reigned for only a few days!
Source: Author daver852

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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