The earliest Roman coin dates back to 211 BC. At first, the coins were lumps of bronze called Aes Rude, produced by a casting process by which metal was melted and poured into a mold in the shape of the coin. However, because they were using bronze, the coins were extremely heavy and the process was ineffective. Six types were issued in this first period of minting. One ancient Roman coin from this period is the Hercules and Jupiter coin.

However, as methods improved, Romans made their coins by striking them with enough force to imprint the coin's design. Inspired by Greek cities in southern Italy, these coins (called didrachm) were made of silver. As time went on, tin, more silver and gold were all metals used to create Roman coinage. Today, these coins are found in private collections and museums for the most part.

Purchasing Roman Coins
You can find a Roman coin for sale through an antique coin dealer or an online auction. Beware of pitfalls--a $10 Roman gold coin probably isn't worth a dime or may even be a fake. Ancient coins that are so worn or in such bad condition that they can't be identified aren't worth a thing either, even if they are authentic. Always choose a Roman coin that can be identified to ensure value and worth.

Ask atypical questions about the coins you like--you'll get a lot of information the dealers won't normally volunteer. For example, find out if the coin was found using a metal detector. If it was, you may think twice about buying it. Coins are affected chemically after they've been underground for centuries. They will start to crystallize and actually change composition--it still looks like metal, but it's now actually a fossilized, brittle piece of matter.