Sestertius Rave Party!

Recently bought 2 sestertii at a coin show last Friday, thought I'd share here.


Antoninus Pius, Sestertius, 159-160 CE, Rome mint RIC III 1031.
This piece is quite worn, but I really like the portrait, and the general surfaces and patina of the coin, its also a pretty hefty piece, at over 33mm, and likely around or over 25 grams (I don't currently have access to my scale, so the weight is just a guesstimate).

In contrast to this "full" and hefty sestertius, I got this pathetic in comparison 23 by 26mm Volusian sestertius, probably weighs less than half of my new Antoninus

Volusian, Sestertius, 251-253 CE, Rome mint, RIC IV, III 259.

 

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Ugh, why does it have to be me throwing water on this bronze parade?



See my profile pic for scale.

Rome. The Republic.
Anonymous, 212-208 BCE
AR Sestertius (1.0g; 12mm).
Rome Mint.

Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma, right; IIS (mark of value) behind.

Reverse: Dioscuri galloping right with spears; two stars above; ROMA below in linear frame.

References: Crawford 44/7; Sydenham 142; BMCRR 13-18.

Provenance: Ex Volteia Collection [CNG 102 (18 May 2016), Lot 777]; ex August Voirol Collection [Munzen und Medaillen 38 (6-7 Dec 1968), Lot 105].

The IIS mark of value denotes that the coin is worth 2 asses + a semis, or 2.5 asses. This quarter-denarius denomination was part of the introduction of the denarius coinage following the Roman sack of Syracuse. The subsequent reduction in the weight standard and size of the bronze coinage eliminated the need for this tiny silver denomination, and it was soon discontinued. However, the denomination would be resurrected for short times during the Social War and Imperatorial eras.

There are various styles of anonymous AR Sestertii that likely correspond to the various styles of anonymous denarii. Some of these stylistic variations may represent different issues and/or different mints. This particular coin depicts Roma with unbound hair and a necklace of a simple line; the helmet visor is "splayed" and consists of two lines with a central, partial third line; the tail of the Dioscuri's horses are fully extended.