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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Severus Alexander, post: 5387574, member: 84744&quot;]I figured it would be in BMC.&nbsp; I need to get that volume!</p><p><br /></p><p>Here are some of my SA dupondii:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1231296[/ATTACH] </p><p>Rare accession liberality issue, 10.02g 23mm (not in RIC with this bust type, BMC 7 note)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1231297[/ATTACH] </p><p>RIC 609, same obverse legend as the OP (only found earlier in the reign), 12.24g 25mm</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1231298[/ATTACH] </p><p>RIC 646, my current avatar coin; 12.80g, 26mm</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1231299[/ATTACH] </p><p>RIC 601, 11.06g, 25mm</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1231300[/ATTACH] </p><p>RIC 629, 12.50g, 24mm</p><p><br /></p><p><b>How to tell the difference between a light sestertius and a heavy As?</b></p><p>Obviously the radiate crown allows us to identify the dupondii.&nbsp; For AE As vs. sestertius, the die diameter should make it pretty clear.&nbsp; At least for SA (and I suspect the surrounding reigns):</p><p><br /></p><blockquote><p><b>As die diameter: 23.5-25mm</b></p><p><b>Sestertius die diameter: 28-30mm</b></p></blockquote><p>*Note that this is the diameter of the <i>die</i> not the diameter of the coin!&nbsp; The die diameter is measured from the very outside of the circle/dots/denticles on the edge of the die.</p><p><br /></p><p>With sestertii that are a bit short on flan, you have to guesstimate how large the die is, but it&#039;s usually possible to do this within the required range of tolerance.&nbsp; You can usually tell where the edge of the letters will be, and often some of the circle/dotted circle is visible too.&nbsp; Since there&#039;s quite a gap between the two die sizes it&#039;s pretty hard to get it wrong.</p><p><br /></p><p>Examples:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1231323[/ATTACH] </p><p>This coin is 27mm and 16.05g, but is obviously seriously short on flan.&nbsp; The die diameter is at least 28mm, so it&#039;s a sestertius.&nbsp; (It was incorrectly labeled an As by the seller.)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1231330[/ATTACH] </p><p>This coin is 29mm(!) and 15.32g, but the die diameter is only 24.5mm.&nbsp; Definitely an AE As.</p><p><br /></p><p>In general I don&#039;t think we pay enough attention to die diameter![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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