Many years ago (about seventy) I set out to build a collection of Julio-Claudian sestertii (which weren’t exorbitantly expensive in those days). The coins I purchased then (at coin shows or local coin shops or from other collectors) were mostly in very good to very fine condition (I couldn’t afford those in higher grade). I have always liked Sestertii for their size and heft, and for the often elaborate depictions engraved on their substantial flans. I adopted the following criteria as my collecting guide: reasonably smooth surfaces (natural patina - evidence of previous cleaning and blemishes acceptable within reason ); well centered on a round flan; complete, easily read, inscriptional lettering (legends); well documented historical association. Of course, I wasn’t always able to find Sestertii that met those criteria in my price range, but I tried my best. In a few years I assembled a fairly comprehensive collection of pretty nice Julio-Claudian Sestertii. But that consumed just about all of my modest coin budget - it left me little cash for denarii, dupondii, asses, quadrans, etc. (and soon, Tetrarchic folles). As often happens, I had to break up my specialized Sestertius collection in order to expand my Ancient coin collecting horizons. I still have a few of my favorite Julio-Claudian Sestertii. I still love to admire and fondle them - here they are: RIC Vol. I, CAIUS (CALIGULA), SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 51, 40-41AD, (35mm, 26.2gm) Obverse depiction: Personification of Pietas, seated left Obverse Inscription: C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG PM TRP IIII PP In exergue: PIETAS Reverse depiction: Caligula standing left holding patera over altar - attendants (victimarius) on either side holding bull for sacrifice - hexastyle temple of Divus Augustus festooned with garlands in background. Reverse Horizontal Inscription: {small lettering} DIVO AVG and below: S C (left and right) RIC Vol. I, NERO, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 356, 66-67AD, (36mm, 24.8gm) BMCRE Vol. I, NERO, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 114, 66-67AD, Obverse depiction: Nero, laureate head facing right Inscription: IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM PM TRP XIII PP Reverse depiction: Personification of Roma seated left on cuirass resting elbow on shield and holding spear, helmet behind Inscription: ROMA in exergue S C left and right Sestertius, RIC, Vol. I, Tiberius, No. 68, AD 36-37 (35mm, 22.6gm) Cataloged in Wildwinds under Augustus - Sear 1784 Coin obverse depiction: Augustus, radiate, togate, holding laurel branch in r. hand and long sceptre in l., seated on throne, placed on a car, drawn l. by four elephants, each bearing a mahout on its neck. The side of the car is ornamented with shields (?) Inscription across top in three lines DIVO AVGVSTO SPQR Coin reverse depiction: Large, centered S C Inscription clockwise from top: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST PM TR POT XXXIIX RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 112, 50-54AD (36mm, 28.2gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP Reverse depiction: Civic Oak Wreath Inscription in four lines: EX SC P P OB CIVES SERVATOS (within wreath) RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 109, 42-43AD (38mm, 28.0gm) Obverse depiction: Nero Claudius Drusus (father of Claudius), bare head facing left Inscription: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP Reverse depiction: Claudius seated left on curule chair holding olive branch, panoply of weapons and armor beneath Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP - S C in exergue RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 99 41-50 AD, (36mm, 25.3gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, bare neck laureate bust, facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and demurely raising skirt with left hand Inscription clockwise from bottom: SPES AVGVSTA - S C (exergue)
Wonderful pieces of history.. great write up - Thank you! All great - this one must be a wonder to hold in hand: RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 109, 42-43AD (38mm, 28.0gm)
Being fairly new to collecting ancient coins (<1 year), my collecting focus has been all over the map. My original intention was to acquire a few Roman emperors and call it "good" so-to-speak. Well... That strategy went to crap. After discovering the vast catalogue that is 'ancient coins', I've been on somewhat of a frenzied blitz this past year. I've been accumulating all sorts of types of Greek, Roman, and then some. Now with a little time of collecting under my belt and many different coins in hand; I've now decided to focus on certain areas that I really enjoy. Unfortunately, many (in good to great condition) are out of my current chosen budget -- when it comes to procuring any single one coin(Looking @ you Greek AR). I've discovered that my favorite Roman coin denomination/type is the (Imperial)Sestertius. I believe that it's something that many ancient coin collectors can relate to; the heft and palette of a broad flan and how stimulating it is to the senses. Among some of my most favored Sestertii to ogle are that of the Julio-Claudian era. I recently acquired my first; with the intention and hope to acquire more going forward. It has become one of the most prized ancient coins in my modest collection. Thanks for showing yours. Nero Claudius Drusus. Died 9 BC. Æ Sestertius. Rome mint. 36mm, 28.05 g. Struck under Claudius, AD 42-54. O: Bare head left R: Claudius seated left on curule chair, holding branch and scroll; below, weapons and armor on either side of globe. RIC I 109 (Claudius)
I enjoyed this lead-off story @Herodotus - typical introduction to Ancient coin collecting. Great choices. You are welcome. Yours is a nice coin - one of my favorite Julio-Claudian Sestertii. I think it has some of the most beautiful inscriptional lettering of any Sestertii.
I lightened up the the pic of the Claudius RIC No 109 sestertius in my original post to show the details better. Here is a more natural photo of that coin:
They sure are impressive. And good ones are in high demand, and yield a high premium. Heres my only one so far, acquired early this year:
jamesicus, It looks like you kept the right ones . You have an excellent representation of early sestertii. I like high grade coins, so early sestertii were way out of my budget . No doubt, the finest artwork in Roman coins was done on these early sestertii .
Thank you Al. I always enjoy seeing the high grade coins you post. High grade Sestertii are indeed pricey these days. Of course, I swore off buying any more coins a couple of years ago - but we know how that goes when you encounter a choice coin that captures your fancy!
I am a sucker for sestertius with green patina. I no longer own the following coin - I now have regrets for letting it go. RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 112, 50-54AD, (35.7mm, 27.9gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP Reverse depiction: Civic Oak Wreath Inscription: in four lines: EX SC P P OB CIVES SERVATOS. (within wreath)
Wonderful collection of Sestertii, @jamesicus ! Fun to look at. Super! I have very few Sestertii. Not by design, just by default as I collected. Never really focused there, rather, if there was a denomination I favored, it was a DOUBLE-Sestertius... oh, I mean a Quinarius! A Sestertius of mine... RI Pertinax 193 BC AE Sestertius rome mint LAETITIA RIC 17 C 21
CLAUDIUS SESTERTIUS, TITUS RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD (34.5mm, 23.12 gm) BMCRE Volume II, Rome, Titus No. 297 (pl. 56.1) RIC Volume II (1962 Edition), Rome, Titus, No. 234 RIC Volume II, Part 1 (second edition), Titus, No. 472 (Sear No. 2601) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and demurely raising skirt with left hand Inscription: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C (left and right) Clickable links: Sear Roman Coins and their Values (RCV 2000 Edition) Number 2601 (via Wildwinds Claudius) Sale: CNG, Triton XII, Lot: 555 (5 January 2009) - this coin
Some really beautiful coins there I really love these big sestertii, I don’t have any earlier than my sole Nero though ; Nero sestertius Rome mint c65 AD RIC 277 NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P Laureate head right, aegis on left shoulder. Roma seated left atop cuirass and shield, holding Victory S C at sides, ROMA in exergue.
