As was the name of copper coins used during the Roman Republic (509 BC–27 BC). These coins were made of low quality reddish copper. We can tell a lot about the period in which it was minted; by the engraving of the leader’s name on the coin.
We have many examples of ancient Roman coins that are made of cast bronze called Dupondius. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between an As and Dupondius because of their similar size.
Ancient Roman silver coins called the Denarius, were made for imperial coins. As a result, many of these silver coins have portraits of the emperors and their immediate family.
For the most part, ancient Roman coinage was minted in bronze, and in rare cases, silver. In times of extreme emergency (like before a war), ancient Roman coins were also minted in Aureus or gold (so as to divert bronze metals to weapons production).
