Tiberius Sestertius, RIC I (second edition) Tiberius 61

Monetary Context and the Julio-Claudian Sestertius

The monetary reforms established under Augustus defined the sestertius as the premier large-denomination base-metal coin of the early Roman Empire. Valued at four asses, two dupondii, or one quarter of a silver denarius, the sestertius was manufactured from orichalcum, a golden-toned brass alloy composed primarily of copper and zinc. Its substantial physical module, averaging roughly thirty-four to thirty-six millimeters in diameter and weighing between twenty-five and twenty-eight grams, gave it exceptional prominence in urban economic exchanges. Beyond fulfilling basic market needs, the generous surface area of the sestertius functioned as an ideological showcase for the imperial administration. Under Tiberius, base-metal coinage was issued selectively, with major sestertius emissions clustered around specific historical moments, dynastic declarations, and monumental completions. RIC I (second edition) Tiberius 61 stands near the end of Tiberius's monetary output, originating during a late period characterized by conservative fiscal management and restricted imperial public appearances. By employing the highest-value token denomination to portray the Temple of Concordia, the imperial authority utilized an established commercial medium to circulate an architectural symbol of divine harmony throughout the empire.

Production Standards and Rome Mint Manufacture

Production of RIC I (second edition) Tiberius 61 was concentrated entirely at the central imperial mint in Rome. The alloy selected for this issue was orichalcum, which differed visually and economically from the unalloyed red copper reserved for asses and quadrantes. The manufacturing process required meticulous preparation of heavy flans, cast in open molds and subsequently adjusted to fit the Julio-Claudian sestertius weight standard. Die engraving for this type required extraordinary technical skill. Engravers at the Rome mint worked in minute scale to reproduce a multi-tiered structural composition, carving the slender columns, open intercolumniations, and multi-figure statuary groupings directly into iron dies in intaglio. Surviving specimens show die axes typically aligned at either twelve or six o'clock, reflecting the regulated mechanical practices of the urban mint. The high relief of the architectural dies demanded tremendous striking force, often requiring several hammer blows while the flan was heated, which occasionally produced minor flan fissures or peripheral softness on surviving pieces.

Obverse Iconography: The Temple of Concordia

The obverse design breaks with the conventional numismatic practice of displaying an imperial portrait, presenting instead an elaborate architectural view of the Temple of Concordia Augusta. The structure is rendered as a hexastyle temple front raised on an elevated podium accessed by a wide central flight of steps. Uniquely reflecting the actual ground plan of the building in the Roman Forum, which was constrained by the Tabularium behind it, the design shows projecting flanking wings. Through the wide central intercolumniation, Concordia is visible seated in majesty, holding a patera in her right hand and a cornucopiae in her left. On projecting podia flanking the frontal steps stand statues of Hercules on the left, grasping his club, and Mercury on the right, carrying a caduceus, symbolizing the twin virtues of strength and prosperous commerce. The pediment is decorated with sculptural relief, while the apex and roofline are crowned with an extensive acroterial display: a central triad traditionally identified as Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, flanked by dynamic statues of Victory bearing trophies alongside additional standing deities.

Reverse Design and Senatorial Authority

In sharp contrast to the rich figurative detail of the obverse, the reverse of RIC I (second edition) Tiberius 61 maintains the sober, monumental layout typical of Tiberian senatorial bronze. The center of the field is dominated by the large letters S C, an abbreviation for Senatus Consulto ('by decree of the Senate'). This prominent formula reflects the constitutional tradition of the principate, whereby base-metal coinage struck at Rome was formally authorized through senatorial sanction, even while operating under ultimate imperial oversight. Surrounding the central letters along the outer perimeter is the complete imperial titulature of Tiberius, neatly inscribed within a beaded border. The circular arrangement emphasizes clarity, hierarchy, and legal authority, framing the senatorial monogram within the full scope of the emperor's official titles and religious offices.

Inscriptions and Epigraphic Analysis

The reverse legend provides the definitive epigraphic documentation for the issue, reading continuously around the border: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST P M TR POT XXXVII. This legend expands into Latin as Tiberius Caesar Divi Augusti Filius Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate XXXVII. Each component of the text serves a deliberate political function. The patronymic Divi Augusti Filius ('son of the deified Augustus') asserts Tiberius's direct genealogical and religious legitimacy derived from the founder of the principate. The titles Pontifex Maximus ('chief priest') and Augustus reinforce his supreme sacral and constitutional preeminence. Crucially, the formulation Tribunicia Potestate XXXVII ('holding tribunician power for the thirty-seventh time') provides an exact chronological anchor. Because Tiberius's tribunician power was renewed annually following its initial award during the Augustan era, this thirty-seventh renewal provides a firm date of manufacture, confirming that the dies were prepared during the late regnal year spanning AD 35 to 36.

Typology, Dating, and Predecessors

In the standard typology established by C. H. V. Sutherland in the revised edition of The Roman Imperial Coinage, this issue is classified specifically as RIC I (second edition) Tiberius 61. It forms part of an episodic series of sestertii featuring the Temple of Concordia that appeared across Tiberius's reign. An earlier emission carrying the identical architectural obverse was produced with the tribunician date TR POT XXXVI (RIC I [2nd ed.] Tiberius 55), dating to AD 34 to 35, while an earlier prototype series appeared in AD 22 to 23 (TR POT XXIIII, catalogued under RIC I [2nd ed.] Tiberius 44). The recurrence of the type in AD 35 to 36 under RIC 61 represents the final iteration of the Concordia sestertius during Tiberius's lifetime. Numismatists have noted subtle die variations across these successive issues, particularly in the density of pedimental figures, the spacing of the acroterial statues, and the ornamentation of the temple columns. However, the core typology remains remarkably consistent, underscoring the enduring symbolic importance of the monument throughout the later Julio-Claudian administration.

Circulation, Function, and Archaeological Context

As a high-value base-metal denomination, sestertii of RIC I (second edition) Tiberius 61 circulated widely throughout the Italian peninsula and the western provinces of the empire. Excavations from military castra along the Rhine and Danube frontiers, as well as urban centers in Roman Gaul and Hispania, consistently reveal Tiberian orichalcum sestertii in circulation layers extending well into the Flavian period. Because bronze denominations possessed lower intrinsic metallic value than gold and silver, they remained in everyday transactions for several decades, often exhibiting substantial surface wear, countermarking, and patination. The architectural imagery on RIC 61 circulated visual knowledge of Rome's monumental center to soldiers, provincial merchants, and regional elites who might never visit the capital. In archaeological contexts, the issue serves as a valuable terminus post quem of AD 35 to 36 for stratified deposits, demonstrating the longevity of robust Julio-Claudian orichalcum currency in the ancient economy.

References

1. Temples of Rome as Coin Types (Numismatic Notes and Monographs No. 90). pp. 18-21
2. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Volume I: Augustus to Vitellius. pp. 139-140
3. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC I (second edition) Tiberius 61. ric.1(2).tib.61
4. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume I: From 31 BC to AD 69 (Revised Edition). p. 99, no. 61