The
aureus (pl.
aurei — "golden") was a
gold coin of
ancient Rome valued at 25 silver
denarii. The
aureus was regularly issued from the 1st century BC to the beginning of the 4th century AD, when it was replaced by the
solidus. The
aureus was about the same size as the
denarius, but heavier due to the higher
density of
gold (as opposed to that of
silver.)