The Romans used these coins: the aureus (gold), the denarius (silver), the sestertius (bronze), the dupondius (bronze), and the as (copper). The coins carrying Britannia so far found have all been ases.

The denarius had the purchasing power of 10 modern pounds and was equal to one to three days’ pay for a Legionnaire.

Pictures on the earliest denarii showed the bust of Roma (the goddess of Rome) on the obverse (front), and a god driving a chariot on the reverse (back).

Julius Caesar changed this, and had coins stamped with his own portrait. This made it clear to everyone who it was that ruled the empire. Because gods had been used on coins previously, part of the purpose of putting the emperor’s head on them was to make the emperor into a god-like figure.