Our research focuses on Roman coin composition as an agent for economic deficiencies in imperial administrative structures. This analysis is a starting point for assessing the roots of administrative decline to an earlier time period than is usually cited. We began research with an Alexandrian tetradrachm and a Hadrianic denarius, two coins housed here in the USC Archaeology Research Center, which have never been published. Looking at a small period of Roman history, Nero’s rule through Hadrian’s, we are able to trace a subtle but significant decline that shows how the Roman Empire was becoming unable to provide for all of its needs using its given resources. Our findings corroborate Mason Hammond’s article “Economic Stagnation in the Early Empire” which traces specific signs of economic decline starting around the time of Nero.  Analyzing these two coins granted us a look at the Roman economy at specific points in time.