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What do the letters AR stand for in: AR Denarius?

Are all AR Denarius coins silver?
Do the letters stand for the same in: AR Drachm?
TIA!
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  • RobPRobP Posts: 483 ✭✭


    << <i>Are all AR Denarius coins silver?
    Do the letters stand for the same in: AR Drachm?
    TIA!
    image >>


    Ar = Argentum = Silver
  • SapyxSapyx Posts: 2,355 ✭✭✭✭✭
    In the shorthand which numismatists have used for hundreds of years:

    AV = gold (from the Latin aureum)
    AR = silver (from the Latin argentum))
    AE = copper, bronze, brass or other base metal (from the Latin aes)

    In printed books which allow for it, the two letters are often written as a ligature (a single symbol joined together).

    Note that this is different from the chemical shorthand for these metals (Au = gold, Ag = silver and Cu = copper).
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  • nicholasz219nicholasz219 Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭
    Wow, it all makes sense now. I'm surprised I didn't know this.

    Short, but informative.

    Nick
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