Roman Coin | Brass Sestertius

History of the Artifact These large, solid Brass coins were named ‘sestertii’ - meaning "two and one half", referring to their nominal value of two and a half asses (a bronze Roman coin, singular as), a value that was useful for commerce because it was one quarter of a denarius, a coin worth ten asses. This large Brass version of the Sestertius began minting in 23 A.D. in a coin reform initiated by Emperor Augustus. The brass sestertius typically weighs in the region of 25 to 28 grams, is around 32–34 mm in diameter and about 4 mm thick. The sestertius was produced as the largest brass denomination until the late 3rd century AD. Most were struck in the mint of Rome but from AD 64 during the reign of Nero (AD 54–68) and Vespasian (AD 69–79), the mint of Lyon (Lugdunum), supplemented production. A sestertius in Ancient Rome could buy a loaf of bread or a small portion of grain, a cheap cup of wine, or basic produce. It might cover the cost of a visit to the public baths or a simple meal