This lovely but humble coin arrived last week. Many know that I enjoy sestertii most of all and I could not pass this one up when I saw it (and thankfully I was the only bidder). It exhibits the interesting characteristic of the time, a squared planchet. Feel free to post your 'square coins': Otacilia Severa. Augusta, A.D. 244-249. Æ sestertius (34 mm, 20.02 g, 1 h). Rome, Under Philip II, A.D. 245. MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust of Otacilia Severa right / PVDICITIA AVG, S C in exergue, Pudicitia seated left, drawing out veil and holding scepter. RIC 209. Nice red-brown patina, a few light cleaning marks. Very fine.
My Volusian sestertius exhibits the same squared-off planchet: Volusian (251-253 A.D.) AE Sestertius, 29 mm 16 grams, Rome mint Obverse: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Reverse: FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C, Felicitas standing left, leaning on column, holding caduceus and sceptre. Reference: RIC 251a, Cohen 35, Sear 9786.
Gosh Ken, your definition of "humble" is, in my collection, FDC! A very attractive coin - the scowling portrait is fantastic. I have several square ones - this first is Trebonianus Gallus - it is in awful condition, but it has an attractive green patina which (somewhat) makes up for it. Trebonianus Gallus Æ Sestertius (251-253 A.D.) [IMP CAES C VIBIVSTR]EBON[IANVS GALLVS AVG], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / [PIETAS AVGG], S-C, Pietas standing facing, altar to left. RIC 117a; Sear 9676 (16.70 grams / 24 mm) The Trajan Decius DACIA is quite a bit better - and very square. I thought it was interesting that the reverse legend is arranged almost vertically - as if the celator was allowing for the squared-off flans: Trajan Decius Æ Sestertius (251 A.D.) Rome Mint IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, laureate, cuirassed bust right / DACIA S-C, Dacia standing left, holding standard. RIC 113a, Cohen 28 (18.73 grams / 29 mm)
kool coin..i just now purchased a sest. of Volusian...+ a Leopold ll HRE from Spain..i'll show'em whens i gets'em....anyway..i have a few squares meself..i bought this one as an Oct. Sev., but @Roman Collector educated me that is was Herennia Estrucilla, (which i am grateful for)
Very nice new Otacilia, Ken! Like ACH's above, a squared-off Volusian Sestertius: Volusian, Ruled 251-253 AD AE Sestertius, Struck early 253 AD, Rome mint Obverse: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, bust of Volusian, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right. Reverse: FELICITAS PVBLICA, Felicitas, draped, standing left, leaning on column, holding caduceus in right hand and transverse sceptre in left hand, S-C across field. References: RIC IV 251a Size: 29mm, 14.03g Correct me if I'm wrong (and FYI for those new ancients collectors out there), the squared planchet illustrated here is more than likely caused by the method of production of the planchets prior to striking. I've heard that the bronze was first made into roundish/square-ish rods that were then cut/sawed into discs and were struck. Edit: similar discussion here - https://www.cointalk.com/threads/square-rectangular-coins-e-g-gordian-iii.317172/ "I always imagined they were cutting the flans from bars, like slicing bread, and that it was easier to make and cut squared-off bars." - @Severus Alexander
PHILIP I AE Sestertius OBVERSE: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right REVERSE: AETERNITAS AVGG, elephant and driver walking left, SC in ex. Struck at Rome, 247-8 AD 20.6g, 28mm RIC 161a MAXIMINUS I AE Sestertius OBVERSE: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right REVERSE: FIDES MILITVM S-C, Fides standing left, standard in each hand Struck at Rome, 235-236 16.3g, 30mm RIC 43
Have you noticed that sestertii of the perio tend to have at least one squared side but asses rarely do? The flan prep routine was different for some reason I do not understand. Gordian III sestertius two adjacent sides flat Trebonianus Gallus sestertius = two opposite sides flat (bonus nail hole) Gordian III as - round
Lovely coin, Ken. Here is one with a squarish flan: Herennia Etruscilla, AD 249-251 Roman orichalcum sestertius, 14.04 gm, 28.3 mm Rome, AD 250-251 Obv: HERENNIA ETRVSCILLA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right Rev: FECVNDITAS AVG SC, Fecunditas standing left, right hand extended to child standing at her feet; holding cornucopiae Refs: RIC 134a; Sear 9504; Cohen 9; Hunter 12. This one from her husband is pretty square, too: Trajan Decius AD 249-251 Roman Æ sestertius; 26 mm, 15.09 g Rome, AD 250-251 Obv: IMP CMQ TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right Rev: PANNONIAE S C, the two Pannoniae standing side by side, holding standards Refs: RIC 124a; Cohen 87; Sear 9407; Hunter 54.
In a Google search about the topic, there was a Forvm DB post that in which someone didn't believe the Romans word expend so much effort in cutting a planchet mentioning that it'd take at least 10 minutes with a modern hacksaw. But I've seen a documentary about how the ancients had cut stone slabs in quarries with a saw with multiple saw blades of after another and it got me thinking that this could maybe be the case with these too? Maybe 10-20 saw blades set 8-10mm apart all moving back and forth together? Also, Roman's used work animals to ease efforts in industry, so maybe the saw was driven by a set of donkeys walking in circles spinning a spindle? Like they did with grinding grain? https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ancient.eu/amp/2-907/
Augustus, Roman Provincial, Æ24 Hispania Ulterior, Osset, San Juan de Aznalfarache (Sevilla) 27 - 14 BC 23 x 24 mm, 7.28 g Ref.: RPC 58; SNG Copenhagen 174-175; CNG 78; CNH p.396,8 (L. Villaronga, "Corpus Nummum Hispaniae ante Augusti Aetatem", Madrid 1994); Lindgren 31; Burgos 1196 The attribution of this type to Augustus is uncertain, but generally accepted by numismatists. Ob.: OSSET before bare head of Augustus r. Rev: naked Dionysos (or genius of the city?) standing left, holding large bunch grapes and thyrsus
Not quite as pronounced as some of the others in this thread, but this Gordian III has a squarish flan.
A Gallienus that I had posted a while ago in another thread when I was wondering why some coins were square: Æ Sestertius Rome, 254 AD 1st emission, struck under the authority of Valerian and Gallienus Ref.: RIC V Gallienus (joint reign) 248; Sear 10495; MIR 36, 38bb; Ob: (IMP C P ) LIC GALLIENVS AVG, Laureate and cuirassed bust right Rev.: (VIRTVS) AVGG, Soldier, helmeted, in military attire, standing left, holding spear in right hand and leaning on shield with left hand, S - C across field and Marcus Aurelius also seems to have been struck quite "squarish" Æ Sestertius, Rome, 168 - 169 AD Ref.: RIC III 969; Cohen 822; 30 x 33 mm, 27.70 g Ob.: M ANTONINVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX laureate head right Rev.: TR POT XXIII IMP V COS III Aequitas seated left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand
Not mine anymore, but kinda square, Mariniana : And some from my trays Herennia Etruscilla : Valerian : Salonina : Q
