Antoninianus
![Row 1: Elagabalus (silver 218-222), Trajan Decius (silver 249-251), Gallienus (billon 253-268 Asian mint)Row 2: Gallienus (copper 253-268), Aurelian (silvered 270-275), barbarous radiate (copper), barbarous radiate (copper)](/Images/godic/202412/21/7antoninianii4943.jpg")
![The rapid decline in silver purity of the antoninianus.](/Images/godic/202412/21/Decline_of_the_antoninianus4943.jpg")
The Antoninianus was a coin used during the Roman Empire thought to have been valued at 2 denarii. It was initially silver, but was slowly debased to bronze with a minimal silver content. The coin was introduced by Caracalla in early 215, and was a silver coin similar to the denarius except that it was slightly larger and featured the emperor wearing a radiate crown, indicating that it was a double denomination. Antoniniani depicting females (usually the emperor's wife), featured the bust resting upon a crescent moon.