Sestertius Sunday…..

Hi everybody…..
I have been off for a while due to my rotten back, but back now.

I am attracted to Sestertius coins because of size of portrait and

just overall presence of the coin. Is there any advantage to these coins other than personal preference.

I think a collection of them would be really neat to look at.

Any thoughts or could you please show some…

 

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I guess I can start off with the Roman equivalent of a lead off single.
Caius (Caligula) Ae Sestertius 37-38 AD Rome Obv. Head left laureate Rv. Inscription within wreath. RIC 37 27.88 grms 33 mm Photo by W. Hansen Though sestertii with large obverse portraits were minted in the provinces, this is one of the first one struck from the mint of Rome. Caius is depicted as a young man with a horizontal brow and staring eye giving him a somewhat intimidating look. His hair which is longer behind the ear does harken back to Tiberius and the reverse does resemble an issue of Augustus. What is interesting is that only the C of his name can be found on the obverse legend whereas the name of his father Germanicus is prominently displayed right above his head.
Caius would be quite aware that unlike his two predecessors, he had absolutely no experience on the battlefield. So this image was designed to put those concerns to rest. The penetrating gaze and strong neck are complimented by a hair style similar to his predecessor Tiberius a very successful general, and of course he has the name proudly displayed of his illustrious father.
One should note that this coin was part of an extremely well thought out program of numismatic propaganda launched in 37 AD.

 

Spectacular!

 

And another bad boy Nero.
Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 21.62 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck circa AD 66. Laureate head left, globe at point of neck / Triumphal arch, showing the front, with a wreath hung across it, surmounted by the emperor in facing quadriga accompanied by Pax and Victory, flanked by two soldiers; statue of Mars in side niche; the faces and plinths of the arch are ornamented with elaborate reliefs. RIC I 500; WCN 452; Lyon 191. Near VF, brown patina.

 

Seriously a great coin….! Thank you

 

Here is my finest Sestertius:



Obverse: IMP CAES M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust of Macrinus right, with beard of intermediate length.
Reverse: PONTIF MAX TR P COS P [P] around, S — C in field, Felicitas standing left, holding long caduceus and cornucopiae.
Orichalcum Sestertius, Rome, 1.Oct.-31.Dec.217
20,51 grams / 33,10 mm
Clay (The Roman Coinage of Macrinus and Diadumenian), obv. die 2, rev. die 42 (this coin cited); RIC 139; BMC 120, note; Cohen 66; Sear (RCTV II) 7386.
ex collection of Friedrich Karl August, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, 1763-1812 (Münzhandlung Basel Auction 3, 1935, lot 730).

 

Wonderful

 

The above coins are simply grand….!

 

Great coins so far ! I can't afford to collect choice sestertii but have a few nice one in my collection .






Maximus as Caesar, AD 236-238, Rome Mint. AE Sestertius: 26.39 gm, 31 mm, 12 h. RIC IV 13. CNG 70, lot 1044, September 21, 2005.

 

Those are great, thanks

 

I like the Maximus a lot.

 

Sestercii are beautiful. Something to be said about a big hunk of bronze.

I have fewer than you can count on 1 hand but these are my two favorites:

Husband and wife duo Hadrian and Sabina

 

Nero has many artistic sestertii.

 

I love sestertii, especially the earlier ones before they started to shrink in size. But I can't really afford very nice ones, or, to be more precise, to the extent I spend that much money on a single coin I'd rather buy something gold or a truly excellent Roman Republican denarius (for example). Therefore, out of my total of 337 ancient coins right now, I have only four sestertii, the last of which is no bigger than some earlier "middle bronze" dupondii or asses.

Marcus Aurelius / raising ("restoring") kneeling figure of Italia (30 mm.):



Faustina II/ Felicitas & six children (31 mm.):



Maximinus I Thrax / Salus (31 mm.):



Philip I/stag (28 mm.):



None of these was very expensive, because none is what I would call in outstanding condition. But I like them anyway!

You can also find, usually for somewhat less money, Roman Provincial bronze coins that are around 30 mm., like a Roman Provincial octassarion from Antioch, or even larger, like Roman Alexandrian bronze drachmae.

 

Yes, sestertii can be very fun to collect




Q

 

..i was gonna say this is your line o collecting JG.....i have a few..a big chunk o bronze.brass is always good.. sestertius Max Thrax, Winged Germania reverse with captive a foot. 30mm,19.05gms

 

OH MY !!

 

You have it right! Nobody doesn't love a Sestertius! Even relatively cheap examples ($20-50) can be quite impressive, just due to their size, especially if the portrait is recognizable (as long as there's nothing distinctively ugly about the coin!). There's very little in life more satisfying than looking at full tray of Roman Sestertii (or full album page, depending how you do it).

Most sentimental value: Here's my very first Roman coin, a Hadrian Sestertius purchased by my father in the late 1980s while we were traveling in Europe (Rome or Florence? Paris?):


"Most pretty":


"Favorite value" (for the provenance to the Clain-Stefanelli Collection, 40GBP + fees):


Favorite Sestertius Group Lot:

 

I have 9 in my collection, although the condition is inferior to the superb examples posted here.
My first and favorite - it was the first time I heard about this term. Got this Titus sestertius from my first ancient purchase -a group lot.


My only one with an empress portrait


And the last one I bought, a sestertius much reduced in size and in technical execution quality ...