Roman gold, silver and bronze all sell here — from a single denarius to an inherited group. We identify the emperor, denomination and type, then value each coin on its metal, rarity and condition rather than by weight alone.
We only buy coins that are lawfully held, and we will happily wait while you check the Treasure position. Written valuation. Free insured postage. Paid in 72 hours.
Britain was a Roman province for the best part of four centuries, and coins were struck, imported and lost here in extraordinary numbers. That is why so many households have Roman coins today — a detectorist's finds, a Grand Tour souvenir, a box inherited from a collecting relative. It also means the range is enormous, from worn late-Roman bronzes a few millimetres across to fine silver portraits and the occasional gold piece. The first job is always to work out what a coin actually is; only then can it be valued properly.
We buy across the whole span — Republic and early Empire through to the late-Roman period — in gold, silver and bronze. Because Roman coins are ancient rather than bullion, weight tells only part of the story. A common bronze and a scarce silver denarius of the same size can be worlds apart in value, so each coin is examined and identified on its own.
Roman coinage falls into three broad metal groups, and they behave very differently when it comes to price:
The aureus was the high-value gold coin of the Republic and early Empire; the solidus replaced it from Constantine onward. Both are scarce, carry a real gold floor, and a good example can be significant. Genuine Roman gold is uncommon — we authenticate carefully.
The denarius was the workhorse silver coin for centuries; the antoninianus (the "radiate") took over in the 3rd century and was steadily debased. Valued on a modest silver content plus a collector premium driven by emperor, type and condition.
The big brass sestertius, smaller dupondii and asses, and the mass of late-Roman bronzes. Valued almost entirely on rarity and condition — metal is negligible — so a sharp sestertius portrait far outweighs a handful of worn bronzes.
You do not need to identify a coin yourself — that is our job — but it helps to recognise the main names that turn up in British finds and old collections:
| Denomination | Metal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aureus | Gold | High-value coin of the Republic and early Empire; scarce |
| Solidus | Gold | Late-Roman gold, from Constantine onward |
| Denarius | Silver | The standard silver coin for centuries; hugely varied |
| Antoninianus | Silver / billon | 3rd-century "radiate"; progressively debased |
| Sestertius | Brass (orichalcum) | Large bronze, prized for bold imperial portraits |
| Dupondius & as | Bronze / copper | Smaller base-metal denominations of the early Empire |
| Follis / late bronzes | Bronze | Introduced by Diocletian's reform; late bronzes are very common finds |
Beyond the metal, four things do most of the work in setting a figure:
If your coins were found in the ground in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, the Treasure Act 1996 may apply, and Treasure law is more detailed than a simple age or coin-count test. Traditional criteria can apply to groups of coins at least 300 years old — for example two or more gold or silver coins, or ten or more base-metal coins, from the same find. Changes introduced in 2023 also created a significance-based category for certain metal objects and coins more than 200 years old. If coins were recently discovered rather than inherited or previously collected, check the current official reporting rules before selling them, and note that Treasure cannot be sold privately until any required process is complete.
In England and Wales, potential Treasure should be reported through the current official reporting process within the required timeframe. Recording non-Treasure finds with the Portable Antiquities Scheme through a Finds Liaison Officer is encouraged though voluntary. Scotland operates a separate Treasure Trove system and regional rules differ. The rules can change and borderline cases exist, so we are not a substitute for official guidance — check the current position on GOV.UK (gov.uk/treasure) or with your Finds Liaison Officer. We only buy Roman coins that are lawfully held and clear of any Treasure process, and we are glad to wait while you confirm.
Anything that shows where a coin came from — an old collection ticket, a dealer's envelope, a note of a documented find, or a Portable Antiquities Scheme reference — supports both the sale and the value, and we always welcome it. That said, plenty of perfectly legitimate coins come down through families with no paperwork at all. If that is you, send what you have and tell us what you know; we will identify the coins, be straight about what provenance does and doesn't add, and never pressure you to sell.
Each coin is identified — authority, denomination, mint and type — then any precious metal is weighed and the condition graded. Bronzes are valued on rarity and condition; silver and gold add a metal floor beneath the collector premium. You receive a written, itemised valuation in pounds explaining each figure. If your Roman coins sit within a larger holding, our coin valuation guide covers the whole process and selling a coin collection explains how we handle mixed lots. For related ancient coinage see sell ancient Greek coins, and for medieval British coins struck by hand see sell hammered coins.
Tell us roughly what you have — "a dozen Roman bronzes" or "a silver denarius" is plenty. We email a free prepaid, tracked and insured label the same working day.
Make sure your coins are lawfully held and clear of any Treasure process. Wrap them so they can't rub together, leave any patina alone, and post — insured to £5,000 from the first scan.
We email a unique parcel code and your opening time. Your parcel is opened on camera and photographed before a specialist identifies each coin by emperor and type.
Each coin itemised — emperor, denomination, metal, condition and figure, all in pounds. Accept what you want to sell; the rest comes back free. Payment within 72 hours, or we add 3%.
If your question isn't here, call us on 01234 815116 or email support@fairvintage.co.uk. We respond within one working day.
Get your free label →Usually yes, provided the coins are lawfully held. A single Roman coin found with the landowner's permission and outside a protected site is generally not Treasure and can be sold; recording it with the Portable Antiquities Scheme is encouraged but voluntary. What you cannot sell is anything that qualifies as Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 until it has been reported to the coroner and the process is complete, or anything taken without permission or from a scheduled monument. If you are unsure, your local Finds Liaison Officer and GOV.UK are the right first ports of call, and we are happy to wait while you check.
It depends on what was found, and Treasure law is more detailed than a simple age or coin-count test. Traditional criteria under the Treasure Act 1996 can apply to groups of coins at least 300 years old — for example two or more gold or silver coins, or ten or more base-metal (bronze) coins, from the same find. Changes introduced in 2023 also created a significance-based category for certain metal objects and coins more than 200 years old. If coins were recently discovered rather than inherited or previously collected, potential Treasure should be reported through the current official reporting process within the required timeframe. Rules can change, Scotland operates a separate Treasure Trove system and regional rules differ, so check the current guidance at gov.uk/treasure or ask a Finds Liaison Officer. We only buy coins that are lawfully held and clear of any Treasure process.
Roman Britain produced enormous quantities of coinage, so many finds are common late-Roman bronzes — small, often worn pieces that are modest in value individually but still collectable, especially in groups or by theme. Silver denarii and antoniniani are worth more, with well-struck examples and desirable emperors commanding a premium. Gold aurei and solidi are scarce and can be significant. In every case the emperor, the specific issue and the condition matter as much as the metal, which is why each coin is assessed on its own merits rather than by weight alone.
We identify the coin first — emperor or authority, denomination, mint and type — then weigh any precious metal and grade the condition. Bronze coins are valued almost entirely on rarity and condition rather than metal; silver and gold have a metal floor plus a collector premium set by the issue. Sharpness of portrait and legend, surface quality and an attractive patina all lift a Roman coin, while heavy wear or harsh cleaning lower it. You receive a written, itemised valuation in pounds explaining how each figure was reached.
No. Cleaning is the most common way people reduce the value of an ancient coin. A stable, original patina is part of what collectors pay for, and scrubbing, polishing or dipping a Roman bronze or silver can strip surfaces and leave permanent damage. Leave coins exactly as found or as they came to you, handle them by the edge, and send them as they are. If a coin is caked in soil and you are tempted to clean it, don't — email us a photo first and we will advise at no cost.
Request your free label today. Each coin identified by emperor and type, valued on metal, rarity and condition. Written valuation. Paid within 72 hours — or we add 3%.
Also see: Coin valuation · Sell ancient Greek coins · Sell hammered coins