Fractions with Denominational Marks
A summary of David Wigg's article¹



 
 
PACI PERPET fractional issued by Constantine the Great image from Dirty Old Coins website
VIRT EXERCIT GALL fractional issued by Constantine the Great image by Doug Smith in Tory Failmezger's book Roman Bronze Coins
Issued 312-313 A.D.
RIC VI Rome 355-358
PACI PERPET (XII) Pax standing left, holding standard.
Issued 312-313 A.D.
RIC VI Rome 359-360
VIRT EXERCIT GALL (XVI) Virtus leaning on a spear.

 

    In 312, Constantine defeated Maxentius and the mint in Rome began striking coins of the same standard as the Gallic mints. The follis was the standard type and it was minted at close to 1/72 libra (roughly 4.5 grams based on a Roman pound of 327 grams), and the size was roughly 21millimeters in diameter. The main reverse types were GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, MARTI CONSERVATORI, SOLI INVICTO COMITI, and SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI. Two fractionals were also struck at Rome during this period and both bear denominational marks.

"It will be argued here that the fractions with the XII and XVI marks form a departure from the denominational system of fractions previously struck at Rome, that the radiate crown was used on the coins in order to identify a new denomination, and that the numerals XII and XVI were intended to indicate the official values of the new coins expressed in denarii." The weights of these two coins suggest that they were intended to weigh 2/3 and 1/2 of the follis.
 
 

Bronze Coinage at Rome 312-313 A.D.


Denomination
die module
peak weight
mean weight
Follis
(RIC VI, 287-354)
20.5/21.5 mm
3.6 - 4.6 gm
4.2 gm
2/3 (XVI)
(RIC VI, (359-360)
18.5/19 mm
2.6 - 3.1 gm
2.95 gm
1/2 (XII)
(RIC VI, 355-358)
15.5/16.5 mm
1.6 - 2.4 gm
2.14 gm

 
 

The follis is believed to have had a value of 25 denarii, but the marks of value on these fractionals suggest a value of 24 denarii for the follis.
 

 The parallel use of 24 and 25 is a duodecimal and decimal system like the old English currency. The denominational marks of these fractionals suggests a value of not 25 denarii, but 24; 12 instead of 12 1/2, and 16 instead of 16 2/3. It was easier to count small change this way, and then convert to 25 units for larger amounts.

"When dealing with small numbers the duodecimal system proves more flexible as it provides a wider variety of subdivisions. But on the other hand the decimal system is more convenient for multiplication of larger numbers."
 
 

Diocletian's Edict of Prices also lends support to the theory that Romans used two systems for their monetary system. For small amounts up to 25 DC, the denarii communes is most frequently named as an even number-- 2, 4, 6, 8 etc. Beginning at 25 DC, increments of 5, and more commonly 10, are used. This chart stops at 100 DC, but the pattern of the decimal system continues with the exception of 116 (1) and 144 (1); and two half-decimal occurrences 175 (9) and 274 (4).
 
 

The Frequency of Occurrence of Different Prices ²


Prices in 
denarii communes
number of
occurrences
Prices in 
denarii communes
number of
occurrences
1
2
24
21
2
26
25
21
3
1
26
1
4
94
30
33
5
1
32
1
6
33
35
4
8
36
36
2
10
25
40
32
12
34
45
1
13
1
50
57
14
9
60
26
15
4
64
1
16
32
70
6
18
7
75
20
20
39
80
14
22
2
100
56

 
 




¹ this page is a summary of an excellent article by David Wigg.
 David G. Wigg, "An Issue of Follis Fractions with Denominational Marks by Constantine I at Rome," Die Münze. Bild- Botschaft- Bedeutung. Festschrift für Maria R. Alfoldi. Frankfort, Germany: Peter Lang, 1991, pp. 405-423.
 

² this data on Diocletian's Price Edict came from the following article:
 L. H. Cope, “Diocletian’s Price Edict and its Associated Coinage Denominations.” Schweizer Münzblätter 27 (1977) : 7-11.
 
 

last modified on 29 July 2007