These coins were often continuations of the original currencies that existed prior to the arrival of the Romans.
When a new region was assimilated into the Roman Empire, the continuance of preexisting local currencies was often allowed as a matter of expediency.
Silver and billon coins were more common in the Eastern regions of the Empire, particularly Alexandria.
By 210 BC Rome was controlling all of the Greek cities in the region of Magna Graecia.
Greek coinage from this period can be classified as the first instances of Roman provincial currency.