Beginners guide to identifying Roman coins.

[the-roman]

This is purely a guide to help those people who would like to learn how to identify their Roman coins. First and foremost, you really do need to have a real interest in Roman coins, if not then it will be quite an uphill struggle for some.
So without going into too much detail and risking confusing anyone, this is a good place to start.
The most common things I look out for are …
Hairstyles, both male and female.
Beards or clean shaved.
Radiate or otherwise known as spikey crown.
Necks and noses.
Once you start to familiarise yourself with the busts then you can really start to learn.
Of course, the legend around the bust always helps but sometimes it is not always legible so this is where getting to grip with the busts themselves really helps you find out who the person on the coin is.

Good online resources to help you out, and these are the ones I use if I need extra help …

https://www.tesorillo.com/aes/_rev/index1i.htm

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/i.html

http://dirtyoldbooks.com/roman/Roman-Emperors.html

Of course, there is a lot more to it than this, but it is the best starting point. It is always worth having a go at an ID of a Roman coin. So what if you get it wrong, this is how we all learn. We need more people to learn to identify Roman coins because those of us that already do won’t be here forever and the torch needs to be passed on.
Hope this helps, at least somewhat, and encourages more of you to have a go.
Cheers, Keith.

[figgis]

Great stuff. Thanks so much, Keith

[TerraBritannia]

Thanks for the links Keith.

Now I have to admit that I've tried to do some Roman coin identification in the past too, noses, chins, necks, hair etc etc . . . . I don't think I've managed to get a single one right to date. It's not easy is it?

[Dave The Slave]

Have used wildwinds in the past, so thanks for the other 2 links, Keith.
Cheers,
Dave.

[Oxgirl]

Great resources, thank you

[Mucky]

This is purely a guide to help those people who would like to learn how to identify their Roman coins. First and foremost, you really do need to have a real interest in Roman coins, if not then it will be quite an uphill struggle for some.
So without going into too much detail and risking confusing anyone, this is a good place to start.
The most common things I look out for are …
Hairstyles, both male and female.
Beards or clean shaved.
Radiate or otherwise known as spikey crown.
Necks and noses.
Once you start to familiarise yourself with the busts then you can really start to learn.
Of course, the legend around the bust always helps but sometimes it is not always legible so this is where getting to grip with the busts themselves really helps you find out who the person on the coin is.

Good online resources to help you out, and these are the ones I use if I need extra help …

https://www.tesorillo.com/aes/_rev/index1i.htm

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/i.html

http://dirtyoldbooks.com/roman/Roman-Emperors.html

Of course, there is a lot more to it than this, but it is the best starting point. It is always worth having a go at an ID of a Roman coin. So what if you get it wrong, this is how we all learn. We need more people to learn to identify Roman coins because those of us that already do won’t be here forever and the torch needs to be passed on.
Hope this helps, at least somewhat, and encourages more of you to have a go.
Cheers, Keith.

Nah.. Alternative motive me thinks?
You're just fed up with people running up to you in fields, disturbing your detecting, holding something round and cruddy in front of your nose and shouting, "What's this one Keith!" every five minutes!