v08_0135 - ROMAN REPUBLIC - ANONYMOUS Sesterce

ROMAN REPUBLIC - ANONYMOUS

(3rd century BC)

The appearance of the denarius is fixed in 211 BC since the work of Michael Crawford. The denier is worth 10 bronze aces. Prior to 211, the bronze ace was semi-liberal and contained 12 ounces. Very quickly, because of the war against Carthage, the weight of the as will decrease to become uncial at the beginning of the 2nd century BC. A denier of four scruples (1 scruple = 1.1275 g) is then worth 10 bronze aces that weigh approximately 270 g, the weight of the old Oscan pound, with a silver/bronze ratio of 60.