The sesterce was represented in writing by the Latin symbols for 2½, properly II S. These coins were minted in large quantities during the republic, but their value declined during the empire making their production no-longer economical. Made from orichalcum,¹ a mixture of copper and tin somewhat like brass. sestertii or sesterces) ‘two and a half’ originally worth 2½ asses. The introduction of the antoninianus into the monetary system by Emperor Caracalla quickly forced the denarius out of circulation, and after 244AD denarii were no longer issued with many being over-struck by the state and converted into antoniniani. The weight and fineness of the denarius fluctuated markedly throughout its lifetime, and the intrinsic silver content was constantly being reduced, so that by the middle of the third century, during the reign of Gallienus, the silver content was only 0.08 grammes. denarii) ‘containing ten’, from decem ‘ten’ originally worth ten asses.ĭuring the early Republic these silver coins were struck in almost pure metal, but by the time of Claudius the coin had been debased, and contained a significant quantity of copper alloyed with around 3.5 grammes of silver. Throughout this time the purity of gold used to make the aureus remained fairly constant, with the result that the coin became somewhat reduced in size. The weight fixed by Augustus at the beginning of the first century was 7.75 grammes, and this remained fairly constant up until the reign of Septimius Severus (193-211AD) when it weighed around 7.2 grammes, but by the reign of Gallienus (253-268AD) this had been reduced to only 2.45 grammes. They were minted in gold of a very high purity, and valued at twenty-five denarii or silver pieces. The Aureus was the highest denomination coin of the old Republic, and remained so for most of the Roman Imperial period. The Primary Denominations Aureus – GoldĪureus (pl. These basic denominations were augmented or replaced by various other coinage issues, particularly during the frequent economic crises of the later empire.
His standardised coinage was minted in seven denominations using four different metals gold, silver, brass and copper.Standard set by Augustus Monetary Relationships (first to third centuries) aureus
The emperor Augustus made a great many reforms during his years in office (27BC-14AD), and in 24BC the Roman monetary system came under his close scrutiny. Department of Coins and Medals (gallery 49, case 14) on loan from the collection of G. Reverse: EXERC BRITANNICVS S C ‘For the army of Britain, by order of the Senate.’Ĭoin currently in B.M. ‘Hadrian Augustus, three times consul, father of his country.’ Sestertius of Hadrian (Spink 638a, RIC 913 A.D.
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