aureus

An aureus is a gold coin minted by the Roman state from the late Republic into the late Empire. The name derives from Latin aureus, meaning golden. The coin typically weighed around 7.3 grams and contained nearly pure gold, though exact fineness varied with era and mint. The aureus became the standard gold coin of the Roman economy and was used for large payments, military salaries, and high-value trade. Its value was commonly set at about 25 denarii in the early Empire, though this ratio fluctuated with monetary conditions.

Designs usually feature the reigning emperor on the obverse and a variety of reverse motifs—deities, personifications, or military achievements—reflecting imperial propaganda and religious symbolism. The aureus circulated widely throughout the empire and in Mediterranean trade networks.

During the 3rd century, economic instability and debasement affected gold coinage. In the late Roman and early Byzantine periods, the aureus was gradually replaced by the solidus as the standard gold coin, and the aureus disappeared from regular circulation long before the Western Empire fell. Some aurei continued to be produced or used in limited contexts in the eastern empire for a time.

Today, aurei are prized by collectors and scholars for their gold content and as indicators of imperial iconography and Roman monetary policy. Notable examples include aurei of Augustus, Nero, Trajan, and Hadrian.