(Jul 25, 2017)
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| Reference | RIC 245 | Diameter 35mm
Silver Denarius 19mm (3.01 grams) Rome mint: 112 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
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