This section is arranged by ruler,
then by type. The denarius, sestertius,
dupondius and as, fell into disuse gradually and by the mid 3rd
century the Antoninianus was practically the only coin being produced.
The denarius had dropped to less than 50% silver by the time of
it's demise about 250 AD, and it's succesor, the antoninianus,
though starting off with about 50% silver, soon became a worthless
bronze coin before 270. Reforms were made to the coinage by Aurelian
and Diocletian and the Follis became the standard coin, usually
silver washed, though this became smaller and more worthless under
the reign of Constantine. Silver was reintroduced in quantity in about 355 and that
lasted until the year 400. To date, no attributable coins have yet been recovered
by us later than early in the reign of Gratian ( 367-383).
