My first sestertius - thank you Cucumbor!

My day definitely became brighter when, this morning, I received in the mail a small package containing the coin that @Cucumbor very kindly sent me for getting all the answers right in this year's "Guess the Cointalker" thread; it was very generous of you, I'll make sure to find a way to repay the favour in the future !


Severus Alexander (222-235), Sestertius, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP SEV ALE-XANDER AVG, laureate head right, with drapery on far shoulder;
Reverse: VIRTVS AVGVSTI, Romulus walking right carrying spear and trophy, S C across fields;
RIC 626, Sear 8023, Cohen 591, BMC 524

Not only does this coin have a great portrait and an interesting reverse, but it's my first sestertius! I had never seen one in person, so I admit I was quite surprised when I realized how large and heavy it was! Now, while I still prefer denarii and antoniniani, I must admit that sestertii are quite charming as a denomination, so I might pick up a few more in the future - I wouldn't appreciate my new Alexander remaining alone !

Post anything you feel like might be relevant, be it a coin of Severus Alexander, your first sestertius, a coin you were gifted or anything else .

 

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That's a nice gift.. Neat!
Thanks for sharing.

My only Severus Alexander..

 

Wow , what a wonderful surprise. Congrats , & praise to Q. Pictured below is a sestertius of his Mom that I scored last year .

 

That is a great looking sestertius!

 

This Vespasian with Pax is my first sestertius.

Definitely became my favorite denomination after I opened the package and held it in my hands, but alas sesterces of good quality cost a fortune! so I was lucky to get this coin as a part of a group lot, which I otherwise wouldn't have bought it at the prices it goes for some similar looking sesterces!

 

Congrats, @Claudius_Gothicus , and WOW to @Cucumbor ! Super job to J-C!

I do not have a Sestertius from him, but I do have:


RI Severus Alexander 222-235 CE AR Denarius laureate Victory stndg VOT shield foot on helmet RIC 219


And his Wife's As:


RI Orbiana w Severus Alexander Augusta 225-227 CE Æ AS 23 mm 8.75g Rome Concordia patera double cornucopiae RIC 656

 

Really love it,
my first sestertius, this one specifically was not a gift but my very first ancient coins were gifts from a member here. Really cool coin and even better when its won!

 

Great coin. I still remember how amazed I was when I first held a Sestertius on hand. Way bigger in size and thicker than a denarius.

I think my coin could be a Sestertius version of your Severus Alexander denarius.

Severus Alexander Æ Sestertius.
Rome, AD 230. 15.50g, 32mm, 1h.
Obv: IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, bust facing right
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Victory with left foot on helmet, inscribing VOT X on shield set on trunk of palm tree; S-C across fields.
RIC IV 616; C. 567; BMCRE 643.

 

Congratulations!

This was my first Roman coin. I thought this was my first sestertius:



With time I understood that this was a provincial issue, which makes this my first sestertius:

 

Well that's purdy cool!

 

Severus Alexander, 222-235 A.D. VICTORIA AVGVSTI

 

Augustus Ae Sestertius 16 BC Asinus Gallus Moneyer. Obv.Oak wreath flanked by laurel branches Rv. Inscription around a large S C. RIC 370 21.66 grms 34 mm Photo by W. Hansen We should really look at the coin that started it all. Perhaps one of the more important innovations in the coinage that was initiated during the reign of Augustus was the replacement of the sestertius from a very small and seldom minted silver coin to a very large brass coin. What is surprising however is that despite having a very broad diameter it was barely utilized for propaganda purposes other than what you would see here. Despite having one of the most interesting coinages of any emperor in silver and gold the aes coinage of Augustus is .... well... kind of uninspiring. The reason might be that since this coinage was, in one way shape or form, under the control of the moneyers such as Gallus their might be a problem in keeping everyone on message. Asinus Gallus does go on to have a distinguished career. He is remembered for being the second husband to Vispania the woman Tiberius truly loved and was forced to divorce for dynastic reasons. After the death of Augustus he became a thorn in the side to his successor Tiberius. He eventually paid for that with his life in 33 AD

 

Glad you like it @Claudius_Gothicus, and well deserved gift IMO

After I had thrown your letter in the mail box, I had a few seconds of confusion thinking I might have screwed up and sent my other SA sestertius...


Severus Alexander, Sestertius - Rome mint AD 231
IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate bust of Severus Alexander righ, with light drapery on left shoulder
IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, with a small figure of the emperor at his feet, SC in field
14.75 gr
Ref : RCV #7966, Cohen # 74

Q

 

My first sestertius was this Gordian:


But actually it wasn't a sestertius due to it being provincial, so I ended up with my first REAL sestertius, which, ironically, is the same type as yours, @Claudius_Gothicus !

 

What a great prize!!

Now that you have a big'n'heavy sestertius, you will need to get at least one first century bigger'n'heavier.


I collect Sev Alex middle bronzes. I don't have the Romulus/emperor version of this type (like your sestertius), only the Mars version:

Also this similar but rare coin where SA is wearing an aegis:

 

Wow! What a lovely coin! And what a kind gesture by @Cucumbor!

Here's a Sev Al sestertius in my numophylacium:


Severus Alexander, AD 222-235.
Roman Æ sestertius; 21.72 gm, 28.4 mm.
Rome, AD 229.
Obv: IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate head right; slight drapery on left shoulder.
Rev: P M TR P VIII COS III P P S C, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and scepter.
Refs: RIC 492; BMCRE 570; Cohen 372; RCV 7996.

 

No Severus Alexander sestertius, I'm afraid. My first two sestertii -- still my only two! -- were from Philip I (noticeably smaller than earlier sestertii) and Marcus Aurelius:

Philip I AE Sestertius, 248 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG / Stag walking right, SAECVLARES AVGG; S C in exergue. RIC IV-3 160a (p. 89), Sear RCV III 9012. 27x29 mm., 16 g. (Games commemorating 1,000th anniversary of founding of Rome.)



Marcus Aurelius, AE Sestertius, 173 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, slight drapery on left shoulder; M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVII / Rev. Marcus Aurelius standing left, holding scepter with left hand, and, with his right hand, raising by her right hand a kneeling figure of Italia, wearing a turret and holding a globe with her left hand; [RESTITVTORI ITALIAE] IMP VI COS III [bracketed portion off flan]. RIC III 1078, Sear RCV II 4997, Cohen 538. 30mm, 25.8g. [According to David Sear (see RCV II at p. 315), this coin "commemorates the deliverance of Italy from the threat of barbarian invasion resulting from the emperor's successes in his wars against the Germanic tribes of the Danubian region."] [Purchased from Incitatus Coins, June 2020.]

 

Donna, I’m surprised you only have two sesties, but those are LOVELY. Better two great coin than a dozen mediocre ones!

 

Great coin @Claudius_Gothicus ! It looks like Saturnalia came early for you this year.

That is a generous gift @Cucumbor .

Wonderful SA Sestertius Q. You almost went from generous Q to Q that lost his mind!

I don’t have a SA Sestertius so instead I’ll share my first Sestertius and my favorite Severus Alexander.

My first Sestertius.

Roman Empire
Hadrian (AD 117-138)
AE Sestertius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 134-138
Dia.: 31 mm
Wt.: 22.77 g
Obv.: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, laureate and draped bust right
Rev.: PIETAS AVG, Pietas standing left, praying with hands upraised at altar to left; stork to right, S-C across fields
Ref.: RIC II 771


My favorite Severus Alexander (Antioch mint + fascinating provenance)

Roman Empire
Severus Alexander
AR Denarius, Antioch mint, struck ca. AD 222-235
Dia.: 18 mm
Wt.: 3.35 g
Obv.: IMP C AVR ALEXAND AVG; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: PROVID DEORVM; Providentia standing left, holding wand over globe and sceptre
Ref.: RIC 294
Ex arnoldoe Collection, Ex Otto Helbing Nachfolger 86, Lot 1585 (Nov. 25, 1942)