Aureus Coins

"Aureus" is Latin for "gold," and the Roman aureus coin was almost pure gold (up to 99%). First minted during the 1st Century B.C., the aureus was a coin valued in booty, paid in tribute, and required for the payment of imperial taxes. Although soft and subject to wear because of its high gold content, the aureus was also prized for its intrinsic metal value. (Gold was as precious and treasured in ancient times as now.) Because of the difficulty of locating and mining gold, and because gold coins were subject to wear if handled frequently, gold coins collected in taxes or obtained in battle were frequently melted down and recycled. Restored to correct size and weight, new coins could be stamped with the profile of the current emperor and restored to circulation. As coinage values debased and the empire expanded, gold coins were used to pay much-needed troops (see Solidus Coins).