victoriate

ancient coin

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The victoriate was a silver coin used in the ancient Roman Republic. It was originally valued at three-quarters of a denarius and was primarily intended for foreign trade. The reverse of the victoriate typically featured an image of Victory crowning a trophy.1

Roman coinage began to develop in the 3rd century BC, with earlier forms of currency including unworked lumps of bronze known as aes rude. The victoriate emerged around 190 BC, replacing earlier silver coins called quadrigati, which had been issued during the Second Punic War.2

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The beginnings
…the reverse, and hence called victoriates. By about 190 a mainly silver coinage, Latin-inscribed, was in production at Rome and other authorized mints, accompanied by bronze coinage so greatly reduced in standard (and thus size) that it could at last be struck instead of being cast.
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…the reverse, and hence called victoriates. By about 190 a mainly silver coinage, Latin-inscribed, was in production at Rome and other authorized mints, accompanied by bronze coinage so greatly reduced in standard (and thus size) that it could at last be struck instead of being cast.
Read More