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Double Sestertius

The double sestertius was a Roman bronze coin denomination, struck at c. 25 - 40g, from 251 to 274 A.D, from the Trajan Decius to Aurelian. Double sestertii show a radiate portrait, or crescent under bust for Etruscilla, the conventional marks of the double denomination for dupondii, antoniniani, and double aurei. They bear the letters S C, which identify them as circulating coinage and distinguish them from medallions. Although they are scarce, they are considerably commoner than most proper bronze medallions. Some rare pieces have been noted weighing upwards of 44g but typical weights hover around 25g. Under Decius the average weight was, without much deviation, 40 grams, about twice that of a his sestertius. The last double sestertii were apparently minted during the reign of Aurelian at a rather emaciated weight of c. 17g.


Moneta Historical Research by Tom Schroer

"Double Sestertius" is the modern name for the large orichalcum (brass) coins issued by Trajan Decius (249-251). They were issued in the names of both Decius and his wife Herennia Etruscilla, although not for their sons Herennius Etruscus or Hostilian. The  distinctive features of double sestertii were their weight, bust style, and diameter. Their average weight was about 39.25 grams, more than double the standard sestertius (18.25 grams) of Decius' reign.  Decius' bust was radiate (as opposed to laureate on standard sestertii), and Etruscilla's bust was set upon a crescent.  Both devices, the radiate crown and the crescent, were normally used on Roman coins to denote a "double" denomination. Their diameter was between 30 and 35 millimeters, as opposed to the normal sestertius size of 25-30 millimeters.

Nothing is known of the reasons for the issuance of the double sestertii, although Decius was extremely conscious of Roman traditions and perhaps he intended to magnify the grandeur of Rome through large and impressive coins.  Normally the coins are in fine artistic style. The coins are scarce today, and were not issued by any legitimate emperor after the reign of Decius.

However the Gallic usurper Postumus (260-268) issued an extensive series of brass and bronze coins soon after his usurpation. Among them was a large brass coin with a radiate bust which is usually called a double sestertius. Although its weight can be nearly double the standard sestertius weight (32 vs. 16.25 grams), many specimens are known which are only marginally above the standard sestertius weight. Many of the double sestertii of Postumus were simply overstruck on sestertii of earlier (often second century) emperors. On the balance it seems that Postumus did intend them as a "double" denomination, but they were soon discontinued due to the almost total debasement of the antoninianus which created a small essentially bronze coin worth (in theory) eight of the much larger sestertii.  As a result the sestertii (indeed all brass and bronze) ceased to circulate and their production ceased.



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