Summary

Copper Sextans issued by the Roman Republic, 241-235 BC
Cast in Rome

Obverse Description

A scollop shell; below, two beads

Reverse Description

A caduceus with a bead on left and right; to right side, a sickle

Edge Description

plain

Significance

The earliest copper coins of the denomination 'as' weighed one Roman pound (about 329 g.) and were produced by casting from about 280 BC. There were 12 Roman uncia in a Roman pound and 12 uncia coins to the as. This coin, a sextans or sixth of an as was worth 2 uncia, hence the two dots for the denomination on each side. Cast coins were not produced with exact weights but the average weight of a large sample would have been close to the desired standard.

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