I have always thought that the so-called nummus became smaller and thinner in the fourth century, but that middle coin is not just considerable bigger in flan but it also weights considerable much more. Does that heavy coin in middle (Arcadius-Constantinople) have a higher denomination than the smaller coins? Or do they have the same denomination regardless of their size and weight? Thanks for any help
Hello... I suggest reading @dougsmit 's site - he has a section on denominations which touches on this very topic (near the bottom of the page). https://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/denom.html
"nummus" isn't a denomination. It just means coin in Latin. As we don't know what their contemporary terms were (centenionalis and maiorina were two but which coins they refer to remains unknown) we use generic terms like AE1, AE2 and so on with AE4 being the smallest. The Theodosius is an AE4 and those Arcadius are AE2s. Even the smallest AE4 was tariffed at some obscene multiple sestertii with the solitary sestertius by then long looong obsolete. Inflation.
Here is an Arcadius AE2 - 5.7 grams... I don't believe anyone knows the fixed relationship between bronze and silver or gold in that time period, so it is difficult to know the precise purchasing power of the coins. My guess with the small AE4's is that it was not much.
