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— CH. 1 · ORIGINS AND ETYMOLOGY —

Sestertius

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  • The name sestertius means two and one half. Latin writers derive this term from semis for half and tertius for third. Two asses plus half of a third equal the value of two and a half. This small silver coin entered circulation during the Roman Republic on rare occasions only. A silver denarius weighed about 4.5 grams and held ten asses. The early sestertius valued at two and a half asses weighed roughly 1.125 grams. Pieces often fell underweight in actual practice. Republican silver sestertii appeared sporadically through 44 BC.

  • 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. Brass orichalcum measured about 32 to 34 mm in diameter and stood 4 mm thick. These pieces typically weighed between 25 and 28 grams. Mint workers called brass aurichalcum because its gold-like color shone when newly struck. Production centered on the mint of Rome until AD 64. The mint of Lyon supplemented output during Nero's reign and again under Vespasian. Augustus set the copper as at one quarter of a sestertius. The brass version remained the largest regularly issued bronze denomination until the late third century AD.

  • A loaf of bread cost roughly half a sestertius in some Pompeian accounts. One modius of wheat at Pompeii in AD 79 sold for seven sestertii while rye went for three. A bucket held two sestertii and a tunic fetched fifteen. A donkey commanded about five hundred sestertii in price notes from that era. Documents from Londinium record a sale of Fortunata, a Gaulish enslaved girl, for 600 denarii equaling 2,400 sestertii. This tablet dates to about AD 75, 125 and stands as clear evidence for slave contracts in Roman Britain. An ordinary legionary received about 900 sestertii annually in the first century AD. Pay rose to 1,200 under Domitian who ruled from AD 81 to 96. Tacitus recorded soldiers demanding a denarius daily after receiving ten asses initially.

  • Metal quality and striking declined sharply during the last phase of production. Mint workers reused metal from older sestertii repeatedly. Zinc boils at about 907 degrees Celsius while copper melts near 1085 degrees. Repeated melting reduced zinc content so workers replaced losses with bronze or other copper alloys. Later issues appeared darker and their preparation grew cruder. Inflation driven by debasement reduced purchasing power across all denominations. The Antoninianus became the main small coin by the 260s and 270s. Some of the last sestertii struck bore the name Aurelian who reigned from AD 270 to 275. Postumus overstruck worn earlier coins placing his image and legends over the old fabric. Many pieces were withdrawn by the state or counterfeiters to melt for the debased antoninianus. Coinage reforms of the fourth century did not include the sestertius.

  • 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. Specialists praise the realism found in series from Nero between AD 64 and 68. Renaissance artists studied Roman sestertii for imagery and technique directly. Humanists admired the size and high relief of imperial bronzes. Fully struck examples with sharp detail command high premiums at auction. Production ceased in the fourth century and many pieces were withdrawn and remelted. Sestertii remain less common overall than many other Roman bronze types. A series of Hadrian recorded his travels including an early representation of Britannia. This allegory was revived under Charles II and remains a fixture of British coinage.

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Common questions

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.

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.

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All sources

45 references cited across the entry

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