What does the name sestertius mean and how was it derived?
The name sestertius means two and one half. Latin writers derive this term from semis for half and tertius for third.
Questions about Sestertius
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Augustus reintroduce the sestertius as a large brass denomination?
Augustus reintroduced the sestertius as a large brass denomination in or about 23 BC. The reform fixed the coin at one hundredth of the gold aureus.
How much did basic goods cost in Roman Britain during AD 79 according to Pompeian accounts?
A loaf of bread cost roughly half a sestertius while one modius of wheat sold for seven sestertii. A bucket held two sestertii and a tunic fetched fifteen sestertii.
Who reigned when some of the last sestertii were struck before production ceased?
Some of the last sestertii struck bore the name Aurelian who reigned from AD 270 to 275. Coinage reforms of the fourth century did not include the sestertius.
Why are early brass sestertii prized by numismatists today?
Early brass sestertii are prized by numismatists today for their broad flans. These wide surfaces gave engravers space for detailed portraits and complex reverse types.