WOW! That's Big! (and Heavy!)

I just got a large sestertius and was wondering the size of fellow posters largest coins. Is big always better?





Agrippina I (Augusta)
Coin: Brass Sestertius
AGRIPPINA M F GERMANICI CAESARIS - Draped bust right.
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP P P around large SC. - Legend surrounding large S C
Mint: Rome (42-43 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 26.59g / 38mm / 6h
Rarity: Common
References:
RIC I 102 [Claudius]
BMC 219
Cohen 3
von Kaenel Type 78
BnF II Claudius 236
Provenances:
London Ancient Coins (LAC)
Acquisition/Sale: London Ancient Coins (LAC) VCoins $0.00 04/20
Notes: Apr 5, 20 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection.

 

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Very nice Sestertius, @Gary R. Wilson ! They can be some heavy mongos! Congrats on your find.

Hmmm... my HEAVIEST HAND-STRUCK Coin (not a cast coin) is:




Carthage
AE, 15-Shekel
45mm dia 7.5mm thick 102.6g
201-175 BCE
Hannibal issued it to help pay down Roman 2nd Punic War indemnities
Wreathed head of Tanit left
Horse standing right; uraeus above; (4 hooves down Horse version)
SNG Cop 400; MAA 104
RARE R1
Ex: Praefectus
Comments: The largest Carthaginian coin and likely one of the largest coins struck in antiquity. Very rare.
Sellers Comments: This extraordinary large bronze coin was likely issued under the administration of Hannibal, who, following defeat at the battle of Zama, was appointed as chief magistrate of Carthage. Hannibal worked effectively to restore the finances of Carthage. The annual payment of 10,000 talents to Rome as reparations for the war, and the loss of control over the silver mines in Spain made the issuing of a silver coinage impossible. The immense thickness of this coin also precluded any significant relief of the die's impression.

 

Beautiful coin.. large bronzes do feel great in hand!

Here is my largest:


Domitian, 81 - 96 AD
AE Sestertius, Rome Mint, 35mm, 30.75 grams
Obverse: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GER M COS XIII CENS PER P P, Laureate head of Domitian right.
Reverse: IOVI VICTORI S C, Jupiter seated left holding Victory and scepter


I do love large Imperial bronzes.. mine are "well traveled" - but a joy to have.

 

Beautifully centred coin Gary on a huge flan, congrats. This early struck republican is my largest and heaviest coin.
Anonymous, 211-206 BC, bronze as (struck), 32mm, 40.64g
Obverse: Laureate head of bearded Janus, 'I' above
Reverse: Prow of galley r., 'I' above, ROMA in ex.
Reference: Syd 143, SME 627, Cr 56/2

 

My heaviest coin.


Castulo
Ancient Spain Celtiberian
2nd Century BC.
Dupondius.
Obv: Diademed and beardless
male head right
Rev: Sphinx right star before
Iberian legend KaSTiLO.
CNH pg. 331, 7 , Burgos 694
36.61 grams

 

Nice! That is a big Iberian. How thick is it?

 

That is a great As, great find!

 

Like @Gary R. Wilson , my largest diameter, heaviest coin is an Agrippina I sestertius:

 

both Agrippina I sestertius are beautiful, also very impressive the Carthage coin

my heaviest coin :
Ptolemy IV AE41 221 to 204 BC
41 mm / 66.8 g

 

Great coins. I like large bronze pieces.
My largest struck bronze is an anonymous, Janus / Prow - club, RR As - 48 grams.

This Janus / Prow cast As is 258 grams. The Semis next to it is about half that weight.


If you include bronze bars and cakes, these are over 1 Kg.

 

I was waiting for Gene to bring out those Big-As cast coins! Always cool.

 

Thanks, it certainly pays to check out Rudnik Numismatics every now and again, he's got some good coins.

 

Agreed! Found a few interesting ones from his site.

 

My biggest isn't ancient, it's a cartwheel two pence, around 56 gr



My biggest ancient is this one


Republic, As
As minted in Rome, circa 211-206 BC
No legend, head of janus
Prow of galley right, ROMA at exergue, I above galley
37.22 gr
Ref RCV # 627

Not even sure "the bigger, the better", though
Q

 

Lovely sestertius! Whether bigger is always better depends on what one's preferences are. If you for example look for great eye appeal, the strike matters I guess. In that case, a smaller denarius can be better than a huge cast. For me, both are impressive, but I dont have a huge cast one as of now. For now, my largest in diameter and most heavy coin are shown below, both imperial sestertii. As you see not as impressive as your sestertius!

 

Very nice bigguns!.....Here's my heaviest a tadge under 30 gr..
Antoninus Pius, 138 - 161 AD, AE Drachm, Egypt, Alexandria Mint, 34mm, 29.55 grams
Obverse: Laureate head of Antoninus right.
Reverse: L DEKATOV, Zeus holding patera and scetpre reclining left on open wings of eagle.
Emmett1699 // Dattari2933 // Koln1560 // Milne1905

 

As: 39.62 g - 36 mm
Sestertius: 1.26 g - 13 mm

 

@Alegandron, wow, that Carthage bronze is a monster!

Here’s my largest Roman, only about 31mm (with a denarius for scale).

 

Welllllll... you know I enjoy Carthage coins and some of their History. But I blame it on @TIF for that INCREDIBLE Carthage 15-Shekel Coin that SHE has... She cost me a few shekels with several of her coins that I like...

 

My heaviest coin, this 36 mm countermarked sestertius of Tiberius, weighs in at just under 25 g (24.88).