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THE SESTERTIUS

ROME'S PREMIER PORTRAIT COIN

Augustus, 27 BC-14 AD Obv: nice style portrait of Augustus

(born Octavian) Rev: large CA (for Caesar Augustus? Or
Commune Asiae?) in rostral wreath. Very possibly Ephesus
Mint in Asia Minor. C. 20 B.C. ? Fine+++ .................. $977.

Struck 18 B.C. Non-portrait. Obv: Names of the moneyer T.

Quinctius Crispinus Sulpicianus around SC. Rev: wreath
awarded for: OB CIVIS SERVATOS. F-VF ................ $277.

Caligula, 37-41 AD, Rev: SPQR OB CIVIS SERVATOS in

wreath. Fine............................................................... $577.

Agrippina, Senior, mother of Caligula, issued posthumously

by her brother-in-law Claudius. Obv: draped bust of
Agrippina Rev: SC, legends around. VG ................... $377.

Claudius, 41-54 AD, Fine style portrait. Rev: as previous.

VF/fine $1477. Rev: Spes walking. VG, face pits ...... $147.

Nero, 54-68 AD, Rev: goddesses Annona and Ceres

at table Fine+++ $677. Rev: Nero and soldier on

horseback. Fine $477. VG $227. Rev: Roma seated

Fine/VG ..................................................................... $277.

As before, cast copy, pictured, EF/VF+ ....................... $177.

Galba, 68-69 AD, Rev: Concordia VG $197. Good......

$97.

Vespasian, 69-79 AD, Rev: Ivdaea Capta, Vespasian with

foot on helmet, captive Jew seated, date palm between
them. Fine++ ............................................................. $1277.

Titus, 79-81 AD, as Caesar, struck 77-78 AD under

Vespasian, Rev: SC Mars carrying spear and military
trophy. Superb fine .................................................... $677.

Domitian, 81-96 AD VF- $277. Fine $97. as Caesar 69-81

AD, ch. VG .................................................................

$97.

Trajan, 99-117 AD, Rev: Roma seated on armor, holding

spear and Victory. F-VF $197. Rev: Dacian kneeling before
Pax. Ch VG................................................................

$97.

Originally issued as a small silver coin under the Republic, the sestertius was

reintroduced by Augustus, the first emperor (27 BC to 14 AD) and the second of the
Twelve Caesars, as a large diameter coin composed of orichalcum ( a brass alloy)
and valued at 1/4 of a silver denarius. The brass and bronze coinages of the Roman
Empire were the jurisdiction of the Senate (although it usually was a mere rubber
stamp legislative tool of the emperor). Hence all official Roman brass and bronze
issues bear a prominent S.C. for Senatus Consulto. The size of the sestertius
allowed for the fullest expression of the die-engraver's art. Portraits of the reigning
emperor attained their greatest artistic expression on this denomination.

The large reverse dies were also most useful for the propaganda machines of

the Roman emperors. Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius advertised their
generosity and other virtuous qualities to their subjects. Marcus Aurelius and
Maximinus celebrate their military victories over the Germans, Lucius Verus
commemorated his defeat of the Parthians and Claudius, Commodus Septimus
Severus, Caracalla and Geta relate their victories over the Britons. Some show the
emperor addressing his assembled troops, legionary standards, military trophies,
and captured arms , shields and armor. The construction, or reconstruction, of an
important bridge, temple, coliseum, forum, arch, or harbor was worthy of being
commemorated on the emperor's coins. Peace throughout the empire was extolled
when it occurred. Hadrian issued a large series of coinage describing his visits to
many provinces of the empire and his is shown "restoring" many of them. The
restorations frequently took the form of imperial decrees granting full citizenship
and other favors to the inhabitants of these provinces. Many of these sestertii
(plural) have religious themes on the reverses. The Romans worshipped a large
pantheon of gods and goddesses of their own, as well as deified previous
emperors. They also adopted many deities from the many different cultures
absorbed into the Roman empire. The average sestertius will have the seated or
standing figure of Jupiter, Juno, Venus, Mars, Neptune, Roma, Virtus. Honos,
Moneta, Pax, Libertas, Liberalitas, Felicitas, Salus, Victory or one of many other.

The concept of large chunks of copper, bronze, and brass as stores of wealth

was deeply embedded in the Roman psyche. Since the days of the Roman
Republic the sestertius served as the unit of reckoning for state revenues and
private wealth. The emperor Augustus calculated over the course of his reign he
had contributed 2.4 billion sestertii to the state treasury from his personal fortune.
When the Praetorian Guard auctioned off the emperorship the bidding was in
increments of sestertii. The final price was 25,000 sestertii to be paid to each of
1500? members of the Praetorians by Didius Julianus.

The sestertius was equal to 1/4 a silver denarius and a gold aureus equalled 100

sestertii. A vineyard worker was paid 4 sestertii a day. One could buy 3 loaves of
bread for a sestertius while an amphora of olive oil from Galilee cost 4 sestertii.
Table wine cost 1/4 a sestertius, while a serving of vintage wine brought a full
sestertius.

The sestertius enjoyed extensive circulation from about 0 AD to 275 AD, when

severe debasement of silver coinage altered the traditional exchange values.
Sestertii generally become smaller and smaller through the centuries due to
inflation, and became unfeasible to strike by the end of Aurelian's reign. After this
point the large and heavy brass coinages were generally withdrawn from circulation
and hoarded, or probably traded in the marketplace at some premium which local
buyers and sellers could agree upon. These handsome coins were found and
admired centuries later by many cultures, and in medieval Spain many were
pressed into circulation to cover the shortage of coinage. The Conquistadors were
known to have carried these ancients to the New World, and Roman bronzes have
been found at such unusual sites as the Florida, Texas and California coasts. The
European Renaissance so admired the large portrait coins of the Roman emperors
that medalists extensively copied them either by casting copies or by cutting their
own dies. The collecting of Renaissance imitations has become an avid branch of
the larger field of art study including bronze statues, plaques and medallions.

Grading of these sestertii, like all ancients, and especially bronze and brass

coins, is highly subjective. The factors which go into a single word grade of fine,
very fine, good, very good, etc, include: wear, surface preservation, color and
evenness of patina, external surface deposits or encrustation, level of skill in
cleaning and preserving if needed, flan size and shape, depth and centering of
strike, die wear and population averages. It is not always cost effective to
completely describe an ancient coin in print, so some kind of shorthand must be
applied. These sestertii are described briefly, but conservatively, so that we
maintain our very low percentage of mail order returns (less than 3%). Authenticity
and satisfaction guaranteed.

Some sestertii offered have specific reverses, and are generally one of a kind.

For our generic listings by emperor or empress, reverses are as they come, but
specific choices may be requested, and delivered if possible.

Unless otherwise described, the obverse will have a laureate bust of the emperor

or Caesar.

100%

Jonathan K. Kern

W1043275 04/11/2002 4:02 PM Page a

Hadrian, 117-138 AD, Rev: Fortuna seated, holding rudder

and cornucopiae. VF $377. F++/F- $97. VG $27. Rev: galley
G+ $37. Rev: Syriacus, Hadrian on horseback addressing
legionaires. VG ..........................................................

$97.

Antoninus Pius, 138-161, Rev: winged thunderbolt. EF

$1277. Rev: she wolf and twins G $37. VG $57. Rev:
common F $57. VG $37. G $23. Rev: column, struck after
his death. F/VG .........................................................

$57.

Faustina, Senior, his wife who died in 141 AD. After her

death. VG...................................................................

$37.

Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar under Antoninus Pius. Rev:

sacrificial implements VG $57. VF $277. F ...............

$97.

Marcus Aurelius as Augustus, 161-180 AD, Rev: Mars

standing, 163-164 AD, EF+++ $2477. VF $277. F++ $177.
F $97. VG $57. Rev: Primi Decen Nales Cos III SC in
wreath VG $87. Marcus after his death,
Rev: funeral pyre VG .................................................

$97.

Marcus Aurelius, Rev: Trophy between captive German man

and woman VG-F ...................................................... $177.

Faustina, Junior, wife of Marcus Aurelius, lifetime VF $277.

superb Fine $127. VG+ .............................................

$57.

Faustina, Junior, after her death in 175 AD. VF-/VG+ $127.

VG+ $47. G ...............................................................

$27.

Lucius Verus, co-Augustus with Marcus Aurelius, 161-169

AD, Rev: Victory inscribing shield VIC (tory over the)

PAR(thians) F $127. VG $67. Rev: Lucius on platform

receiving Armenian King VG $127. Rev: normal F $97.

VG .............................................................................

$47.

Lucius Verus, after his death. Rev: eagle on globe

F $97. VG ..................................................................

$57.

Lucilla, wife of Lucius Verus, and sister of Commodus.

Rev: Vesta F $127. other revs: VG+ ..........................

$47.

Commodus, 177-192 AD, Rev: Jupiter standing

VF/F $277. F+/VG $177. VG+ ...................................

$77.

Crispina, wife of Commodus, Rev: Diana Lucifera

VG $97. F++.............................................................. $147.

Didius Julianus, 66 days in 192 AD, Rev: Fortuna.

F/VG .......................................................................... $977.

Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD. Provincial brass struck at

Philippopolis in Thrace with Greek legends. City coinages

this size can be found in sestertii hoards. Rev: temple with

nice statue of Aesculapius on display. Rare. $677. normal

Sestertii, VG ..............................................................

$97.

Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus, died 217 AD. Rev:

Venus Victrix F++/VG $177. VG+/G ..........................

$87.

Elagabalus 218-222 AD Good .....................................

$67.

Severus Alexander, 222-235 AD, rev: Providentia F+/EF

$197. F/VF Rev: Victory inscribing shield $137.

usual rev: F+ $97. F $67. VG ....................................

$47.

Severus Alexander, rev: Spes VF ................................ $137.

Julia Mamaea, mother of Severus Alexander, Rev: Felicitas

leaning on column, holding caduceus. VF $197. F $77.

other revs: VF $177. F++ $117. F .............................

$57.

Orbiana, wife of Severus Alexander,

rev: Concordia F+/VF ................................................ $677.

THE SESTERTIUS...

ROME'S PREMIER PORTRAIT COIN

Jonathan K. Kern

100%

W1043275 04/11/2002 4:02 PM Page b

Maximinus, 235-238 AD, rev: Victory over seated German

captive VF $177. F $117. VG $77. normal rev:

VF $137. F/VF $107. F..............................................

$77.

Maximus, his son, as Caesar, 235-238 AD, obv: bare head,

draped bust of Maximus Rev: sacrificial implements

F++ $227. VF ............................................................ $377.

Gordian I, reign of only 21 days in 238 AD, rev: Providentia

leaning on column. VF, nice smooth green patina with

some light dirt adhering ............................................ $1977.

Balbinus, reign of 98 days, in 238 AD, rev: Concordia seated

VF brown patina with moderate dirt adhering........... $877.

Gordian III, 238-244 AD. Rev: Jupiter enthroned, holding

thunderbolt. EF moderate to heavy dirt over dark green

patina $177. other revs: VF $87. Fine .......................

$47.

Gordian III, provincial "sestertius" from Antiochia, Pisidia in

Asia Minor, Latin legends. Rev: two victories mounting

inscribed shield on palm tree, under which are two captive

Parthians. EF............................................................. $577.

Philip I, 244-249 AD, rev: 4 legionary standards VF+ $197.

rev: column $67. rev: temple F++ $147.
usual revs: EF $197. VF $97. F+...............................

$47.

Otacilia Severa, his wife, rev: hippopotamus VF $187.

usual revs: VF-EF $197. VF ...................................... $117.

Philip II, their son, as Augustus, 247-249 AD rev: father and

son enthroned EF/VF- $197. F+ $97. other revs: F+ $67.
as Caesar F ..............................................................

$67.

Trajan Decius, 249-251 AD, rev: Genivs Exerc Illyriciani, standing

VF $177. rev: Dacia standing VF $177. F $97. rev: the two
Pannoniae standing F $97. rev: Victory VF $147. F..

$87.

Herennia Etruscilla, wife of Trajan Decius, rev: Fecunditas

standing choice VF+ $377. rev: Pudicitia seated, VF $187.

Hostilian, younger son of Trajan Decius, as Caesar, 251 AD,

obv: bare headed, draped bust of Hostilian. Rev: Hostilian
standing with standard and spear. VF/F $377. rev: Apollo
seated, holding branch and resting elbow on lyre. F

$227.

Trebonianus Gallus, 251-253 AD, rev: very unusual temple to

Juno Martialis with a seated statue of her inside. EF $477.
normal revs: VF $177. VF/F $127. F .........................

$77.

Volusian, 251-253 AD, son of Trebonianus Gallus, as

Augustus, rev: Liberalitas standing EF/VF $477. other revs:
VF $247. F+ $147. F .................................................

$97.

Aemilian, another 90 day wonder, in 253 AD, rev: declaration

of vows in wreath. VF ................................................ $775.

Valerian I, 253-260 AD, rev: Victory holding wreath. VF/VG

crude small flan as made $197. rev: Liberalitas F+ .. $157.

Gallienus, 253-268 AD, rev: Fides standing with two military

standards. EF, a huge, heavy flan for this period. $777. rev:
Virtus VF- $277. rev: Liberalitas VF........................... $277.

441 S. Ashland Ave., Lexington, Kentucky 40502

To order, call

859-269-1614

between 9 AM & 5 PM EST

(Visits by appoinment)

Professional Numismatist · Bachelor of Arts in Numismatics

24-hour FAX only: 859-266-7900

email: JKernCoins@aol.com or jon@jkerncoins.com

1. All coins guaranteed as described. ANA and common sense grading. Your

satisfaction guaranteed!

2. Fourteen day return privilege or approval service can be arranged with

proper references.

3. Personal checks of unknown customers must clear. References may be

required. VISA, MasterCard and American Express accepted.

4. Kentucky residents add 6% sales tax.
5. All coins sent insured or registered! Orders less than $200 please add $4.00

for postage and handling.

6. Most coins are one-of-a-kind. Second choices appreciated.
7. Office walk-in sales by appointment only.

MAIL ORDER POLICIES

JONATHAN K. KERN

AUTHENTICITY & SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.

ANA

Life Member

THE SESTERTIUS...

ROME'S PREMIER PORTRAIT COIN

100%

W1043275 04/11/2002 4:02 PM Page c