Collecting Ancient Roman Coins: Bronze Sestertius Guide

Illustrated Specimen Details: Bronze Sestertius

Example Specimen: Tank, 244-249 (Roman Empire)

Authority & Heraldry: Issued during the reign of Philip the Arab (Marcus Julius Philippus), Roman emperor from 244-249. The obverse features the portrait of the Emperor with the inscription IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG (Imperator Marcus Julius Philippus Augustus). The reverse depicts Annona Augusta, the ancient goddess of the harvest and divine personification of the grain supply to Rome, holding corn-ears and a cornucopia, with a modius at her feet. The legend ANNONA AVGG is accompanied by SC (Senatus Consultum), confirming the coin's denomination value by special decree of the Senate. This specimen was minted in Rome.

1. ANCIENT ROME (3rd century BC-3rd century AD): 1 sestertius = 2.5 asses = 1/4 denarius

The name "Sestertius" comes from the Latin "semis tertius" (meaning "two and a half"), as it originally equated to 2.5 asses. Initially struck as a small silver coin during the Roman Republic, it evolved under the Roman Empire into a large, heavy bronze or orichalcum denomination. Serving as a cornerstone of the Roman economy for nearly half a millennium, the sestertius was not just a daily marketplace currency but also the standard unit of account for expressing wealth, pricing luxury goods, and recording state finances.

History and Significance

The sestertius was one of the most important coins of the Roman monetary system and became a key "large-value" currency unit during the Roman Empire. Because of Rome's vast territorial reach, these heavy bronze coins circulated extensively across Europe, Asia, and Africa, and are frequently unearthed by archaeologists today.

Evolution and Production

Starting in the 3rd century BC as a diminutive silver piece weighing around 1 gram, the sestertius transformed dramatically by the 1st century BC into a substantial base-metal coin, often weighing 20-30 grams. The mass production of these coins utilized orichalcum, an ancient brass alloy resembling gold in color. Due to their large flan size, sestertii provided an excellent canvas for detailed imperial portraits and complex political propaganda on the reverse, ranging from monumental architecture to military victories.

Economic Role

In the standard imperial monetary system, one gold aureus equaled 100 sestertii, and one silver denarius equaled 4 sestertii. This made the sestertius highly practical for significant everyday transactions, paying soldiers in bulk, and tax accounting. Its purchasing power was substantial; historical records note that a slave could cost around 2000 sestertii. Roman historians and writers frequently quoted massive fortunes entirely in sestertii, cementing its status as the ultimate measure of wealth.

Linguistic Legacy

The abbreviation for the sestertius was LLS, representing "libra-libra-semis" (pound-pound-half). An intriguing visual coincidence occurs when the first two letters are superimposed on the third, creating a symbol remarkably similar to the modern dollar sign, though this is generally considered a coincidence rather than the historical origin of the symbol.