What was the silver coin used during the Roman Empire?

The denarius was a significant silver coin widely used throughout the Roman Empire, serving as a standard for trade and commerce. Initially introduced around 211 BCE, the denarius represented a crucial development in the Roman currency system. It typically weighed about 4.5 grams of silver and became the backbone of the Roman monetary economy, facilitating transactions and serving as a unit of account.

During its long history, the denarius evolved in terms of design and composition, often featuring images of prominent leaders, gods, and significant events, which also allowed it to function as a means of propaganda. Its prevalence in Roman daily life and trade makes the denarius an essential aspect of understanding the economic and social structures of the empire.

Other options, while relevant to Roman currency, either represent lesser denominations or later developments in Roman coinage. The quadrans was a bronze coin of much lower value, the as was another bronze coin, and the solidus was introduced later in the Roman Empire primarily as a gold coin.