Catalogue Reference Numbers
Every coin on Monetarium has a reference number from one of the standard academic catalogues. These numbers let you look up the exact coin type in published reference works, compare across auction listings, and verify identifications.
The standard academic catalogue for coins of the Roman Empire, from Augustus (27 BC) through to the end of the Western Empire and beyond. Published by the Royal Numismatic Society in 10 volumes, each covering a different period. When you see a reference like RIC IX 35, it means Volume IX, coin number 35.
| Volume | Coverage | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| RIC I | Augustus to Vitellius | 31 BC - AD 69 |
| RIC II | Vespasian to Hadrian | AD 69 - 138 |
| RIC III | Antoninus Pius to Commodus | AD 138 - 192 |
| RIC IV | Pertinax to Uranius Antoninus | AD 193 - 253 |
| RIC V | Valerian to Florian, Probus to Carinus | AD 253 - 285 |
| RIC VI | Diocletian's Reform to Maximinus II | AD 294 - 313 |
| RIC VII | Constantine I and Licinius | AD 313 - 337 |
| RIC VIII | The Family of Constantine | AD 337 - 364 |
| RIC IX | Valentinian I to Theodosius I | AD 364 - 395 |
| RIC X | The Divided Empire and Fall of the West | AD 395 - 491 |
Example
RIC IX 35
Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume IX (Valentinian I to Theodosius I), coin type number 35.
The standard catalogue for coins of the Roman Republic, compiled by Michael H. Crawford and published in 1974. It covers all Roman coinage from the introduction of the denarius around 211 BC through to the end of the Republic in 27 BC. Numbers follow a straightforward system where each entry has a main Crawford number and a sub-number for variants.
Example
RRC 480/1
Roman Republican Coinage, Crawford catalogue number 480, variant 1. The main number groups coins by issuer and date; the sub-number identifies the specific denomination or die variant.
An older reference catalogue focused on silver coins of the Roman Republic and Empire, originally compiled by H.A. Seaby. While largely superseded by RIC and RRC for academic work, RSC numbers still appear frequently in auction catalogues and dealer listings. You may see both an RIC and RSC number for the same coin.
Example
RSC 78
Roman Silver Coinage, number 78. A simpler numbering system than RIC, without volume divisions.