When was the Roman as coin first introduced?
The Roman Republic introduced the large cast bronze coin called the as in 280 BC. This new system replaced older Greek coins that had circulated in southern Italy and across the Adriatic Sea.
Questions about As (Roman coin)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What did the obverse side of the Republican as look like?
During the Republican era, the obverse side of the as displayed the bust of Janus. The reverse featured the prow of a galley cutting through water on coins struck under both libral and reduced libral weight standards.
Who reformed Roman coinage in 23 BC to change the material of the as?
Augustus reformed Roman coinage in 23 BC with significant changes to the as. The material switched from bronze to pure reddish copper for future strikes.
When did production of the ancient Roman as stop completely?
Production continued until the third century AD when final issues ceased between 270 and 275 under Emperor Aurelian. No further examples exist beyond this narrow window before Diocletian began his reign shortly after these final mintings ended.
Which emperor re-established the coin as the assarion in the fourteenth century?
Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos re-established the coin in the first half of the fourteenth century. He called it the assarion instead of using the Latin term and issued these flat copper pieces throughout his reign from 1282 to 1328.