FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Coin of the Day => Topic started by: Bill W4 on June 01, 2019, 06:11:28 pm

Title: just got this sestertius from Joe
Post by: Bill W4 on June 01, 2019, 06:11:28 pm

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins2/87784q00.jpg) 

I 'm really happy with it.  

Title: Re: just got this from Joe
Post by: Jay GT4 on June 01, 2019, 09:21:20 pm

Nice!

Title: Re: just got this from Joe
Post by: Joe Sermarini on June 01, 2019, 10:21:10 pm

Thanks Bill, but you should them what it is. Some will assume it is a denarius.

Title: Re: just got this sestertius from Joe
Post by: PMah on June 02, 2019, 04:16:30 pm

Yes, details please! These are off-the-radar for many collectors.

Title: Re: just got this sestertius from Joe
Post by: Bill W4 on June 04, 2019, 09:57:14 pm

Here's Forums description   Roman Republic, Anonymous, c. 211 B.C.

Click for a larger photo
The silver sestertius is a scarce type discontinued by 208 B.C.
RR87784. Silver sestertius, Crawford 44/7; Sydenham 142; RSC I anonymous 4; BMCRR I p. 16, 13; Russo RBW 176; SRCV I 46, Choice VF, toned, porosity, weight 0.847 g, maximum diameter 12.5 mm, die axis 165o, Southern Italian mint, c. 211 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Roma right, winged helmet with visor and griffin crest, IIS (= two asses and a semis) behind; reverse The Dioscuri galloping right, paludamentum flying behind, stars above, ROMA in linear frame below; scarce; SOLD

Title: Re: just got this sestertius from Joe
Post by: gallienus1 on June 06, 2019, 08:22:05 am

Congratulations Bill W4 silver sestertii rarely appear. They are an interesting coin because I believe they could have been intended to fit in as a fraction of a quadrigatus because at the time it was struck the quadrigatus was still in circulation. The quadrigatus was weighted at 6 scruples and the half quadrigatus 3 scruples. The silver sestertius at around 1 scruple would have been a useful fraction of the larger coins.
The victoriatus was also about 3 scruples and so would have fitted into the system.

That the denarius given a value was originally of 10 asses, and quinarius valued at 5 asses were on a slightly different weight standard must have caused a lot headaches for traders at the time. Possibly why the silver sestetrius disappears so quickly after the introduction of the denarius and consequently why they are now such a rarity.

Best regards,

Steve