Roman Silver

HEX: #838996 | Modern Palette

On White
3.51:1
FAIL
On Black
5.98:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#838996
RGB
131, 137, 150
HSL
221°, 12% ,58%
CMYK
12.67, 8.67, 0, 41.18

About Roman Silver

Roman Silver (#838996) is a color with RGB(131, 137, 150) and HSL(221.05°, 12.67%, 58.82%). It is commonly associated with Calm moods. In design, it fits Muted, Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Border. Its complementary color is #969083, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #968389 and #899683. The name comes from Argentum Romanum (Latin).

  • HEX: #838996
  • RGB: 131, 137, 150
  • HSL: 221.05°, 12.67%, 58.82%
  • Mood: Calm
  • Style: Muted, Cool
  • Use case: Text, Background, Border
  • Complementary color: #969083
  • Triadic colors: #968389, #899683
  • The name comes from Argentum Romanum (Latin).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Roman Silver #838996 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
 
ROMAN SILVER
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
ROMAN SILVER
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
ROMAN SILVER
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Roman Silver #838996 pairs with #969083 as its complementary color, and #968389 and #899683 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

ROMAN SILVER
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

ROMAN SILVER
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

ROMAN SILVER
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

ROMAN SILVER
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

ROMAN SILVER
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

ROMAN SILVER

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Roman Silver #838996 moves from dark #0C0C0E tones through the base color to lighter #F1F2F3 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

ROMAN SILVER

Color Characteristics

Mood
Calm
Style
Muted Cool
Use case
Text Background Border

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #878796
Protanopia #888896
Tritanopia #818B8B
Achromatopsia #898989

Frequently Asked Questions

Roman Silver (#838996) is a color with RGB(131, 137, 150) and HSL(221.05°, 12.67%, 58.82%).

#838996 pairs strongly with #969083 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#838996 is suitable for Text, Background, Border and works well with Muted, Cool styles.

#838996 is commonly associated with Calm.

The name Roman Silver is linked to Argentum Romanum from Latin, meaning Roman Silver.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Argentum Romanum
Meaning Roman Silver
Language Latin
First Recorded Use Roman Republic

History

Roman silver refers to the silver used by the ancient Romans for coinage, jewelry, tableware, and other artifacts. Initially, the Romans used silver primarily for coinage, with the denarius becoming a widely circulated silver coin. The purity of Roman silver varied significantly throughout history. Early denarii were nearly pure silver, but debasement became common during times of economic stress, particularly from the 3rd century CE onwards, where the silver content could drop dramatically. Silver was sourced from various mines across the Roman Empire, including Spain (e.g., Carthago Nova), Britain, and the Balkans. The production and use of silver were central to the Roman economy and imperial power.

First Recorded Use

Circa 3rd Century BCE

Cultural Associations

Silver held significant cultural and economic importance in Roman society. It was a symbol of wealth and status, with elaborate silver dinnerware (argentum escarium) and personal adornments being highly prized by the elite. Silver votive offerings were also common in religious practices. The widespread use of silver coinage facilitated trade and taxation across the vast Roman Empire. The decline in silver purity in coinage is often seen as a symptom and contributor to the economic instability of the late Roman Empire.

Similar Named Colors
Light Slate Gray #778899 ΔE 4.45
Slate Gray #708090 ΔE 5.65
Shadow Blue #778BA5 ΔE 5.95
Cool Grey #8C92AC ΔE 6.38

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #838996;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #838996;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #838996;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #838996,
        #A39B89
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #838996,
        #A39B89
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$roman-silver: #838996;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$roman-silver-r: 131;
$roman-silver-g: 137;
$roman-silver-b: 150;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $roman-silver;
    color: rgba($roman-silver-r, $roman-silver-g, $roman-silver-b, 0.8);
}