What did the romans use for money?
They had different denominations of coinage. The Romans did not use paper bills as we do today. Their coins ranged from small copper or bronze pieces to large gold coins of extreme value. The system of coinage used and relative values of the coins in circulation changed throughout Roman history. During the early Principate (Augustus though Diocletian) there were eight different coins in use, the Quadrans being the lowest at 1/1600th the value of an Aureus, which was the most valuable coin and, as the name implies, of gold. An As, the step up from the Quadrans and four times the value, was sufficient to buy a loaf of bread during that period. Other forms of payment may also have been in use. Private barter was common, and soldiers were paid in salt in addition to their normal monetary compensation.
