Just another random sestertius thread

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by lordmarcovan, Aug 9, 2025 at 6:02 AM.

  1. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    I have only three. Here they are. I welcome your commentary on them.

    Feel free to “pile on” with some of yours.

    IMG_4109.jpeg IMG_4110.jpeg IMG_4111.jpeg

    IMG_4112.jpeg IMG_4113.jpeg IMG_4114.jpeg

    IMG_4115.jpeg IMG_4116.jpeg IMG_4117.jpeg
     
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  3. GinoLR

    GinoLR Well-Known Member

    upload_2025-8-9_12-52-19.jpeg
    Nero Drusus sestertius.

    upload_2025-8-9_12-53-21.jpeg
    Nerva sestertius

    upload_2025-8-9_12-54-31.jpeg
    Trajan sestertius
     
  4. Inspector43

    Inspector43 More than 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    Here is one I found in a batch of uncleaned.
    Hadrian.jpg
    Hadrian AE Sestertius. IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right / PONT MAX TR POT COS III, Felicitas standing, head left, holding corn-ears and cornucopia. RIC 563a, Cohen 1192.
     
  5. Inspector43

    Inspector43 More than 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    I have three of these found in uncleaned batches. This is a photo from a reference. I haven't got photos of mine yet. This post reminded me that I need to do that.

    upload_2025-8-9_7-29-27.png
    Philip I, AE28 sestertius of Viminacium, Moesia. Struck AD 245-246. Year 7. 17.79 g.
    IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
    P M S COL VIM around, Moesia standing front, arms outstretched over a bull and a lion.
    Date AN VII below.
    AMNG 103; Martin 2'14'1 and 2'14'4; Moushmov 36; Varbanov 136.
     
  6. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    expat, Inspector43 and lordmarcovan like this.
  7. expat

    expat Remember you are unique, just like everyone else

    Beautiful sestertii, @lordmarcovan. A great thread with already some some great examples posted. Here is one of mine
    Faustina Junior (Augusta, 147-175). Orichalcum Sestertius (31mm, 21.68g, 12h). Rome, 161-4.
    Obverse FAVSTINA AVGVSTA: Bust of Faustina the Younger, draped, sometimes diademed, hair elaborately waved in nearly vertical lines and fastened in a low chignon at back of head, down cheek, curls, right
    Reverse SAECVLI FELICIT S C: Throne (pulvinar), draped and ornamented, on which are two baby boys, Commodus and Antoninus, seated face to face, with stars above their heads
    RIC III 1665. Sear 5282, Cohen 193. BMC 937.
    6563574_1733500572.l.jpg
     
  8. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Nero Claudius Drusus 1.jpg
    NERO CLAUDIUS DRUSUS
    AE Sestertius
    OBVERSE: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP - Bare head left
    REVERSE: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TRP IMP Exe: SC - Claudius seated left, holding branch; weapons on floor
    Rome 41BC-2 AD
    28.6g, 36mm
    RIC 93
    Hadrian 6.jpg
    HADRIAN
    AE Sestertius
    OBVERSE: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P, laureate bust right, draped far shoulder
    REVERSE: HILARITAS P R S-C, COS III in ex, Hilaritas standing facing holding palm & cornucopia, two small children flanking her
    Struck at Rome, 128-134AD
    25.30g, 35mm
    RIC 970
    Antonius Pius 2.jpg
    ANTONIUS PIUS
    AE Sestertius
    OBVERSE: IDIVVS ANTONINVS, bare head right
    REVERSE: CONSECRATIO, four tiered funeral pyre surmounted by Antoninus in a quadriga, SC in ex.
    Struck at Rome 161 AD
    25g, 31mm
    RIC 1266 (Marcus Aurelius), BMC 880 (Marcus Aurelius), C 354
    Faustina 6.jpg
    FAUSTINA Sr
    AE Sestertius
    OBVERSE: DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right
    REVERSE: AETERNITAS S-C, Aeternitas seated left holding phoenix & scepter
    Struck at Rome, 147 AD
    24.53g, 34 mm
    RIC 1103A
    Marcus Aurelius 2.jpg
    MARCUS AURELIUS
    AE Sestertius
    OBVERSE: AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F COS, bare head right
    REVERSE: IVVENTAS S C, Juventas, wearing a long robe, standing left, holding a patera, sprinkling incense on a candelabrum
    Struck at Rome, 140 AD
    12.4g, 27mm
    RIC 1232, C 393, S4831
    Maximinus 3.jpg
    MAXIMINUS I
    AE Sestertius
    OBVERSE: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG - Laureate, draped bust right.
    REVERSE: SALVS AVGVSTI - Salus seated left, feeding snake on altar
    Struck at Rome, 235-236 AD March - January
    20.7g, 29.5mm
    RIC 85
    Maximus 1.jpg
    MAXIMUS
    AE Sestertius
    OBVERSE: MAXIMVS CAES GERM - Bare-headed, draped bust right
    REVERSE: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS - Maximus standing left, holding baton and spear, two standards behind
    Struck at Rome, 236-238 AD
    18.3g, 28.5mm
    RIC 9, C 14
    OTACILIA SEVERA 2.jpg
    OTACILIA SEVERA
    Æ Sestertius
    OBVERSE: MARCIA OTACILIA SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust right
    REVERSE: SAECVLARES AVGG, SC in ex, Hippopotamus standing right, head raised
    Struck at Rome, 248 AD
    18.6g, 30mm
    RIC 200a, Cohen 65
    ex Warren Esty
     
  9. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

    I love ancient fellows catalogue.........:) So concise. So blunt and brief, yet so informative......
     
  10. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    I should respond to a thread about my favorite type of ancient coin - I apologize because the coins are not here or I would have included size and weight:
    Clodsestsaec.jpg

    The above: Clodius Albinus sestertius - Felicitas, purchased from Henri Delger ca.2002, and the second sestertius I purchased. One of the only good photographs of the coins I am posting. sklslkslkdlkdlkslkslkkl.jpg
    Didius Julianus - Fortuna - poor photograph - the patina is jet black, a smaller, thick coin, the relief is very low, something I have noticed about many of Septimius Severus' early sestertii and even late Commodus. As a result I am extra careful when handling this coin. Didius Julianus is very rare these days - not that his were ever common, but I believe these used to be more available in the past. The prices are now insane in almost any condition - same with Pertinax, although his seem a bit more available - still out of reach though and not that many out there.

    qaawssd.jpg


    Diadumenian sesterius - Spes - a larger coin, purchased on ebay ca. 2010. Spes is much more rare than Fides type, which is the only other type for Diadumenian. This is a large heavy example.

    asseddrfgg).jpg

    This is a poor photograph of the other type for Diadumenian. The coin is actually much closer to brown green - when I first started looking at sesterii 25 years ago Diadumenia's sestertii were extremely rare. These are certainly not common now but I could never have bought this coin for the price paid in the early 2000's - in fact, I had put in a bid that I thought would never win. I had some suspicions as to authenticity when first purchased in a European auction a year or so ago because it is so round etc. but I spent ALOT of time on it and am satisfied it is authentic - and it is, thankfully, not perfectly round. But at one time I had my doubts.
    bsdphotoAlexSevsest.jpg

    Severus Alexander sestertius - with some schmutz on and around the portrait. Purchased from a Serbian friend - I wanted an SA with a beard, this is it - the coin is nicer than my crummy photograph - in fact, none of these photographs are that great - I had done them to send to a fellow sestertii collector in Seattle, and was - of course - in a rush. DSCN6592 (2).JPG

    This, of course, is not a sestertius but a drachm of Alexandria. I have noticed that the celators in Alexandria do not seem to have anywhere near the same level of skill as Rome - my opinion of course, - the reverses are more interesting but the portraiture appears generally crude. Even the high grade types do not have the same level of skill -- but the reverses are wonderful! The exception is the drachms of Hadrian - this is the only one I have and probably the only nice one I will ever be able to afford. But even this one seems to show Hadrian with a pointed weak chin - but it is very nice all the same. Reminds me of the poorer portraits of Marcus Aurelius - ca. 171AD, when the skill in portraiture seems to have lapsed - perhaps by the need to strike coins en masse due to the invasions?

    But of course Rome made it up a few years later with the medallions of Commodus -wonderful!

    DSCN6593 (2).JPG

    Figured I should show the reverse of the Hadrian - a common type. I would like to start collecting Alexandrian drachms, but even mid grade examples are VERY expensive.
     

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    Last edited: Aug 10, 2025 at 7:53 PM
  11. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    And one more - Macrinus sestertius, Fides, from Dianacoins in the early 2000's. The photograph is too brown! It is actually black with red.

    I tried not to include any coins I have posted before - hence none from the family of Septimius Severus. qqaassddddff).jpg
     
  12. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

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