Big Imperials - they can also be so nice ...

[Minos]

Wonderful coins! Here's another, worn but one of my favorite.

Hadrian. AD 117-138. AE As (23mm, 7.31 g). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 124-128. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / Lyre. RIC II 684.

[Arminius]

Only a Philip I ?

I bought this one because of the detailed portrait and good conservation.

Later i recognized the shorter obverse legend - seems to be scarce at least.
(RIC 168d: only one average specimen on coinarchieves, no spec. on wildwinds)

Philip I., Rome mint, 245-247 AD.,
Æ Sestertius (25-27 mm / 13,80 g),
Obv.: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG , laureate bust of Philip I, draped and cuirassed right, seen from behind.
Rev.: ANNONA AVGG / S - C , Annona standing left holding cornucopiae left and corn-ears over modius right.
RIC IV, 90, 168d (S) ; Coh. 29 .

A.

[Pscipio]

An honest and untouched Sestertius - beautiful!

Lars

[black-prophet]

Looks like I have a home to post my few worn sesterti.I'll start with an Emperor I've wanted for a long time.This is one I picked up at the recent CICF show in Chicago.*

Trajan Sestertius "Fallen Dacian"

 Obv: IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TR P COS V PP- Laureate head right, draped left  shoulder.
 Rev: p q r optimo principi' target='_blank'>S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S-C -Dacia seated l. on shield and arms in attitude of mourning; before her, trophy. 
Rome mint AD 105-107 = RIC II, 561, page 283 - Cohen 532

*authors note-Going to coin shows in person is hazardous to your financial well being.While seeing a coin on the internet is nice, it is also misleading because it equalizes an ae4 to a Sesterti by showing them with the same size pictures, regardless of the actual coin size.But at a show there is just no comparison,once you feel the heft of a Sestertius you will want some.Don't say I didn't warn you 

[Arminius]

 ... and it´s even more dangerous to your financial well being if you feel and see them in VF+ conditions - only separated from your ownership by a few ugly, rubbishy banknotes of dirty paper!

RIC 564 ; Coh. 534

[Numerianus]

Here is my specimen:

[Jay GT4]

Here's a new Hardian Sestersius I acquired last week...

HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P
Laur head of Hadrian right

Rev. SC
Diana standing left holding Bow and Arrow

AE Sestertius

Rome 136 AD
Sear 3645

[gb29400]

here the portrait I prefer to time

MAXIMVS CAESAR

Maximus as Caesar ,
 AE Sestertius,
20.58g.

MAXIMVS CAES GERM
draped and cuirassed bust of Maximus right, bare head

R/ PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS SC //
Maximus standing left, holding baton and spear; on the right, two standards;

RIC 13; RCV 8406

[Potator II]

Hi Guy,

Here's mine, almost the same, I like it very much too

Regards
Potator

[Numerianus]

Guys, you have excellent examples with a beautiful portrait.  The portrait of Maximus on
my poor specimen is different: the son strongly resembles his father. 

[Arminius]

Severus Alexander at the age of 15:

Severus Alexander, Rome mint, struck 223 AD., Æ Sestertius (30-32 mm / 19,96 g), Obv.: IMP CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG , laureate, draped bust of Severus Alexander right, seen from behind. Rev.: PONTIF MAX TR P II COS P P / S - C , Providentia standing, legs crossed, leaning on a column to the right which supports her left arm holding a cornicopia, her right hand pointing with baton to a globe at her feet. RIC 404 ; Coh. 461 .

regards

[Numerianus]

This type  is considered as common.
Philip II AE sestertius, Rome mint, 248 AD.
Obverse: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right seen from behind.
Reverse: VIRTVS AVGG S C, Mars advancing right, carrying trophy across left shoulder and
spear in right hand.

RIC IV 263, Cohen 89.

However, a web search shows that it may be not much frequent than the types of Philip II
considered as scarce or even rare. Are you agree?

I found only one but excellent example on coinarchives.
http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=191481&AucID=245&Lot=2437

The second one is in the current Forum catalogue, nice and not expensive!
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=27731q00.jpg&vpar=719&zpg=26796

[Jay GT4]

There have been a lot of Trajan Sestertii in the last few days so I'll add my latest...

IMP CAES NERVAE TRIANO AVG GER DAC PM TRP CO VI PP
Trajan facing right with aegis on front shoulder and behind the neck

Rev. SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI SC in Ex
Trajan on horseback holding spear and victory

Rome 112-114 AD
RIC 599
34mm 24g
Rare

Curtis has kindly helped me in the attribution

[curtislclay]

Philip II VIRTVS AVGG sestertius: yes, definitely scarce to rare, like the other sestertius types of the same issue, all being marked with Greek officina numbers on the corresponding antoniniani: Philip I's NOBILITAS AVGG, TRANQVILLITAS AVG, and P M TR P V COS III P P Mars standing l., and Otacilia's PIETAS AVGG Pietas sacrificing l.

[Numerianus]

Thank you, Curtis. I added to my post an antoninian with GAMMA in the left field.

[Paul Adkins]

man o man, you guys have some awesome coins! Paul

[Numerianus]

Though I had already this type, I could not resist to get a better specimen.
Unfortunately, it is still very far from the dream-coin...

[Arminius]

Sometimes the reverse on these is the most interesting side.

[Minos]

Here's one I just got, the nicest Hadrian sestertius I've come across. To get something better than that, from this emperor, I would have to sell my soul.

Hadrian. Sestertius. 134-138 AD. Obv.: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P - Laureate head of Hadrian. Rev.: Diana holding bow and arrow, S C at sides. RIC 777.

[Jay GT4]

Minos, you should be very happy with that.  I know I would be.  Congrats!  Looks like mine above but better! 

[Minos]

Thanks Titus, I'm quite glad I got it

[Arminius]

Probably a relative of Titus Pullo  :

Titus, as Caesar, Commagene mint, reattributed to Antiochia in Syria (?), 72-74 AD.,
Æ Dupondius (26-27 mm / 12,16 g),
Obv.: T CAESAR IMP PON[T] , laureate head of Titus l.
Rev.: TR POT COS III CENSOR , caduceus between two crossed cornucopiae.
(old) RIC II, 112, 813c (Vespasian) ; Coh. 325 .

Maybe someone knows the reason for the mint reattribution?

[curtislclay]

RIC (new) 762 (R2), RPC 1992, McAlee (Roman Antioch) 387 (V. Rare).

The three references cite just two specimens, both from the same obv. die as yours: Paris 909 and McAlee Collection.

We know that the coins were struck at Rome from (a) their style, (b) alloy is identical with that of Roman dupondii, (c) mules occur combining dies for the Crossed Cornucopias coins with those of normal Roman middle bronzes.

We know the coins were meant for circulation in Syria because a smaller denomination has rev. ANTIOCHIA, veiled and turreted bust of city goddess right.  However RIC p. 28 says that the crossed cornucopias coins "circulated mainly in the western and central empire, alongside other standard middle bronze issues of Rome."

[Pscipio]

Here's the smaller denomination mentioned by Curtis. 21 mm, 4.83 g.

Lars

[Callimachus]

Some nice "big imperials" here -- especially those of Maximus Caesar above.   
Here is one of my favorites:

Severus Alexander AE As (28 mm, 11.44 gm), issued 223.
Obverse: IMP CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG
Reverse: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM,  SC in fields.
RIC 599, Sear 8098.

A nice young portrait of Severus Alexander.
The reverse shows signs of clashed dies and a double strike.