(Aug 1, 2012)
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Diameter 35mm
Bronze 'Sestertius' 28mm (15.87 grams) Struck in the Roman colony of Viminacium, 240 A.D.
A silver denarius was supposed to weigh about 4.5 grams, valued at ten grams, with the silver sestertius valued at two and one-half grams
In or about 23 BC, with the coinage reform of Augustus , the denomination of sestertius was introduced as the large brass denomination
The sestertius was produced as the largest brass denomination until the late 3rd century AD
The brass sestertius typically weighs in the region of 25 to 28 grammes, is around 32–34 mm in diameter and about 4 mm thick
A loaf of bread cost roughly half a sestertius, and a sextarius (~0.5 liter) of wine anywhere from less than half to more than 1 sestertius
One modius (6.67 kg) of wheat in 79 AD Pompeii cost 7 sestertii, of rye 3 sestertii, a bucket 2 sestertii, a tunic 15 sestertii, a donkey 500 sestertii
The reverse depicts the emperor on horseback with a companion
Sestertii are highly valued by numismatists , since their large size gave caelatores (engravers) a large area in which to produce detailed portraits and reverse types
The brutally realistic portraits of this emperor, and the elegant reverse designs, greatly impressed and influenced the artists of the Renaissance
During the following decades the Empire was often divided along an East/West axis
one of the basic requirements was the wealth of 12,000 gold aurei (about 100 kg of gold), a figure which would later be raised with the passing of centuries
During and after the civil war, Octavian reduced the huge number of the legions (over 60) to a much more manageable and affordable size (28)
The tunic worn by plebeians (common people) like shepherds and slaves was made from coarse and dark material, whereas the tunic worn by patricians was of linen or white wool
Advancements were also made in relief sculptures, often depicting Roman victories
The annual total iron output is estimated at 82,500 t , assuming a productive capacity of c. 1.5 kg per capita
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