(Nov 26, 2016)
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| Reference | RIC 115, Cohen 85cf, BMC 192 | Diameter 35mm
Bronze Sestertius 36mm (24.41grams) Rome mint: 41-54 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
Britain was an attractive target for Rome because of its material wealth — particularly mines and slaves
However, as the Flavians became established, they needed to emphasize their own credentials more, and their references to Claudius ceased
There is also a reference to Claudius' suppression of one of the coups against him in the movie Gladiator , though the incident is entirely fictional
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