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Quiz about His Imperators Coinage Roman Coins

His Imperator's Coinage-- Roman Coins Quiz

Roman mints turned out millions of these coins, from those smaller than a dime to those larger than a US silver dollar. How much do you know about them?

A multiple-choice quiz by natus_magnus. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
natus_magnus

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
231,354

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
651

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The VERY common reverse legend of later Roman coppers "GLORIA EXERCITVS" means what? Hint

"The glory of the army"

"Glory and Health"

"The glory of the mighty army"

"Strength is our glory"

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Question 2 of 10

2. A Roman coin reads "IMPCONSTANTIVSPFAVG." Under whom was it probably struck? Hint

Constantius II

Crispus

Constantine I

Constans

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Question 3 of 10

3. Marc Antony struck coins to honor/pay his legions. The most famous of these has a galley on the front. What denomination is it? Hint

Denarius

Dupondus

Solidus

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of these is the largest Roman denomination in terms of diameter? Hint

Lepida

Dupondus

Sestertius

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Question 5 of 10

5. A dealer shows you a coin and says it is a silvered copper coin of Aurelian and calls it an Antoninianus. Is this possible? Hint

Yes, the Antonianus was made of an alloy of 50% silver and 50% copper.

Yes, Aurelian was the first to strike Antonianus.

No, Probus the emperor after Aurelian was the first to strike Antonianus.

Yes, the Antononianus was a silver-coated copper coin struck under Aurelian.

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Question 6 of 10

6. A coin's obverse legend reads "IMPCAESNERVATRAIANOIMPGERMPM." Whose bust is on the coin? Hint

Nerva

Trajan

Caesar

Germanicus

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Question 7 of 10

7. The reverse of a coin has a legend which includes "TR POT." What does this mean?" Hint

Terror of the Enemies of the Senate

Tiberius the Popular

Tribune of the People

Third Pontif

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Question 8 of 10

8. A dealer shows you a coin and says it is a gold solidus of Augustus. Can you believe him? Hint

Yes, the reign of Augustus was long and profitable , and he struck many gold coins.

Yes, One of the reforms of Augustus was a complete reform of the monetary system including the introduction of the solidus.

No, Augustus never struck a solidus; it is a Romano-Byzantine denomination.

No, Roman emperors rarely struck gold coins, and Augustus never did.

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Question 9 of 10

9. We have many coins from some obscure emperors. Which of the following is not a reason why? Hint

The obscure emperors ruled in turbulent times and struck many coins to pay troops.

Due to troubled times, many people hoarded their coins.

Some reigned in places where many coins are being found today.

Supporters of the defeated emperor would save his coinage as a memento.

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which emperor had himself displayed as Hercules on some of his coins? Hint

Commodus

Caligula

Nero

Claudius Gothicus

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The VERY common reverse legend of later Roman coppers "GLORIA EXERCITVS" means what?

Answer: "The glory of the army"

The "GLORIA EXERCITVS" reverse is a common coin of Constantine and his sons. It commonly depicts two soldiers with spears and two Roman standards, but there is much variety.

2. A Roman coin reads "IMPCONSTANTIVSPFAVG." Under whom was it probably struck?

Answer: Constantius II

Coins struck under Constantius II (337-361 AD) often actually bear that inscription. Romans loved titles and abbreviated them to get them on their coins. "IMP" =Imperator/ Emperor. "CONSTANTIVS" =his name. PF =Pious/Felix (Pious and Happy). "AVG" =Augustus.

3. Marc Antony struck coins to honor/pay his legions. The most famous of these has a galley on the front. What denomination is it?

Answer: Denarius

Marc Antony had a large army composed of many legions. He struck millions of these silver denarius to pay his army. Even after his defeat they were widely used for many years. Modern archeologists even found some of these coins in a till in shop in Pompeii.

4. Which of these is the largest Roman denomination in terms of diameter?

Answer: Sestertius

The sestertius was the largest copper Roman coin. The As and Dupondus were both lesser coppers. The Lepida is Greek.

5. A dealer shows you a coin and says it is a silvered copper coin of Aurelian and calls it an Antoninianus. Is this possible?

Answer: Yes, the Antononianus was a silver-coated copper coin struck under Aurelian.

The Antoninianus was originally intended as a denomination worth two silver denarius. The Antoninianus was so debased that it was basically a copper coin. At the end, they were struck out of copper and then washed in silver. It didn't fool anybody.

6. A coin's obverse legend reads "IMPCAESNERVATRAIANOIMPGERMPM." Whose bust is on the coin?

Answer: Trajan

"IMP" = Imperator/Emperor. "CAES" =Caesar. "NERVATRAIANO" =Nerva Trajan. (Two emperors are named here, but Trajan was adoted by Nerva and took his name, hence his name being Nerva Trajan.) "IMP" =Imperator (Conqueror/ victorious leader) "GERM" =Germanicus (Conqueror of Germany). "PM" =Pontifus Maximus (High Priest.)

7. The reverse of a coin has a legend which includes "TR POT." What does this mean?"

Answer: Tribune of the People

The tribune in Republican Rome was the official voice of the people. The emperors in the early empire would often have themselves declared tribune of the people.

8. A dealer shows you a coin and says it is a gold solidus of Augustus. Can you believe him?

Answer: No, Augustus never struck a solidus; it is a Romano-Byzantine denomination.

The solidus was more of a Byzantine denomination than a Roman denomination. It was used half a millennium after Augustus.

9. We have many coins from some obscure emperors. Which of the following is not a reason why?

Answer: Supporters of the defeated emperor would save his coinage as a memento.

Rarity is not determined by age or low mintage. It is determined by how many survived.

10. Which emperor had himself displayed as Hercules on some of his coins?

Answer: Commodus

Commodus, Nero, and Caligula were all insane, but Commodus stuck his mug in the form of Hercules on a coin. Claudius II "Gothicus" got his name here because I thought it was different enough to get some guesses.

Source: Author natus_magnus

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