Most historians today, however, do not see this as a denarius, but another didrachm.
According to the historical notes, a "drachma" is roughly equal to one "denarius".
Inflation was also affected by the systematic debasement of the silver "denarius", which by the mid-3rd century had practically no silver left in it.
Upon his accession he decreased the silver purity of the denarius from 81.5% to 78.5%.
They later reverted to the silver denarius as their principal coin.
He decreased the silver purity of the "denarius" from 58% to 46.5% the actual silver weight dropping from 1.82 grams to 1.41 grams.
He decreased the silver purity of the denarius from 89% to 83.5% the actual silver weight dropping from 2.88 grams to 2.68 grams.
Pre-1971 amounts of less than 1/- (one shilling) were denoted with a d which derived from the term denarius, as in 2d, 6d, 10d.
