BidArch research guide
Roman Imperial Coinage (RIC) References Explained
Learn how to read and verify RIC citations without confusing a catalogue reference with a complete attribution.
Updated 2026-07-19
What RIC describes
The Roman Imperial Coinage is a multi-volume scholarly catalogue arranged broadly by reign and period. A citation points to a classified type within a particular volume, but editions, revisions and online databases may present numbering differently.
A bare RIC number is not enough for authentication. It is a bibliographic locator that must agree with the physical coin.
Reading a citation
Record the volume, issuing authority, mint and number exactly as supplied. Qualifiers, subtypes and plate references matter. When two sources disagree, check whether they use different editions or interpret a legend break differently.
Verify the obverse legend and bust description as carefully as the reverse. Many apparent matches fail because a title, drapery detail or field mark differs.
Common cataloguing mistakes
Do not copy an auction attribution solely because the image looks similar. Avoid forcing uncertain letters into a known type, and do not treat “cf.” as an exact match. A responsible record distinguishes confirmed, probable and unresolved details.
Weights and diameters should be compared as ranges, not rigid rules. Ancient production tolerances and later damage can produce outliers.
A repeatable verification workflow
Transcribe what is visible, identify design elements, narrow the issuing period, consult the appropriate volume and compare photographed specimens. Preserve the reasoning in notes so another researcher can reproduce the result.
BidArch coin records bring references, mints, descriptions and images together as a starting point for this verification process.