Roman AR Denarius of Caivs Divus Julius Caesar Solid Gold Coin reproduction. The denarius was the standard Roman silver coin, and was the most commonly used denomination in the Roman world. The term denarius literally means, in Latin, “containing ten asses”, and was so called because originaly the denarius coin was the equivalent of 10 asses. The denarius was a symbol not only of trade and commerce, but also of Roman power and status. The legacy of the denarius makes it the most popular coin amongst both casual hobbyists and more serious Roman coin collectors alike. The images on the Roman coins give us a lot of information about the Romans and their culture. For example images of sacred and important buildings and temples, show us what their buildings looked like thousands of years ago. Coins are valuable, durable and pass through many hands. Without newspapers or other mass media, they were an ideal way of spread.