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The Roman Sestertius: A Collector's Guide: Color Edition
Hardcover
Publisher Price: $85.00
Publisher: James K. Burns
Published: Jul 11 2026
Pages: 308
Weight: 1.64
Height: 0.94 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
A collector's guide to the large Roman coin known as the sestertius. These magnificent coins were struck for more than 250 years by the emperors of Rome. This lavishly illustrated, 300+ page book includes chapters on the history of the denomination, physical characteristics of the coins as they are today, alterations that affect value, and considerations when buying. There is even a chapter on sestertii in the movies and on television.
The bulk of the book consists of a portfolio of more than 360 fully attributed specimens, with a full-color enlarged photo of each ( 2x) and biographical sketches for every imperial personality represented. There are also lists of types issued for each person and comments about the historical or collector significance for most entries. Appendices offer keys to legends and reverse types. Available in both color and black and white, paperback and hardback.
By the author of Great Women of Imperial Rome (Routledge), The Early Coinage of Athens (Pietas), The 'Archaic Smile' and Greek Coins, Ancient Animals and Their Coins, Roman Empresses, Commodus and the Five Good Emperors, and many more.
REVIEW: Jasper Burns' The Roman Sestertius: A Collector's Guide, is a fun read. Jasper himself posted about it last month and I recommend reading his thread for a summary of its contents. It comes in a black and white edition and a color edition. I recommend the color edition -- you really want to see the patinas on the coins illustrated. Jasper covers the history of the sestertius and the sorts of factors to take into account when buying a sestertius for one's collection. He illustrates the book profusely with high-grade examples from high-end auctions and notes the prices realized. The book is helpful for those new to the hobby, to be sure, but even those collectors with decades of experience and hundreds of sestertii in their coin cabinets will enjoy the book. Roman Collector on cointalk.com
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