Sestertius signum
Sestertius Signum
For legal purposes, a Sestertius Signum, like any Nova Roma coin is a trade token for use within Nova Roma, not an attempt to undermine the common currency of any macronation.
Nova Roma sets the redemption value of a Sestertius Signum at 50 US cents (or the equivalent in other currencies). Nova Roma guarantees to redeem coins at this value so that they may be used as trade coinage at events, within NR Provinciae, trade with Ordo Equester vendors and more. Coins that have been deliberately defaced or altered are non-reedemable.
Issue 1 "Declaratio"
- Denomination: Sestertius.
- Official name: Sestertius Signum.
- Common name: "Declaratio".
- Diameter: 32mm.
- Thickness: 1.8 mm.
- Edge: Plain, (showing cut mark).
- Material: Brass.
- Year minted: MMDCCLIII AVC (2000 C.E.).
- Quantity minted: 5000.
- Disposition: All in circulation.
- Obverse legend: "NOVA ROMA - AEQUITAS - CONCORDIA - CIVILITAS". In exergue: "IOM".
- Obverse device: Seated figure of Iuppiter Optimus Maximus, holding Winged Victory..
- Reverse legend: "DECLARATIO NOVAE ROMAE - KAL MAR MMDCCLI AVC" In exergue: "I SESTERTIUS".
- Reverse device: SPQR in wreath (the symbol of Nova Roma).
- Note: Commemorates the founding of Nova Roma, March 1, 1998.
Issue 2 "Quadriga"
N.B. All specifications subject to change. This coin is expected to enter circulation early in April MMDCCLIX. There is also a description of the design.
- Denomination: Sestertius.
- Official name: Sestertius Signum.
- Common name: "Quadriga".
- Diameter: 32mm.
- Thickness: 2.25mm.
- Edge: Plain.
- Material: Brass.
- Year minted: MMDCCLIX AVC (2006 C.E.).
- Quantity minted: 5000 circulation coins, 250 proofs.
- Disposition: In Production.
- Obverse legend: "SESTERTIVS" In exergue "NOVA•ROMA".
- Reverse legend: "FR•APVLO•C•LAENATE•COS".
- Reverse device: Iuppiter driving quadriga with Victory.
- Note: First in the "Capitolium" series.
A word or two about Roman conventions in portrayal of buildings is in order. Roman coins (and other plastic art) did not always attempt to portray well-known buildings realistically. Not only were details left out, major changes could be made in building plan to suit the needs of the designer. A good example is a relief in the Capitoline museum that shows the Capitolium in the background. This relief shows the Capitolium as Corinthian order and tetrastyle (having four columns across the front). This is plainly impossible. Even if in times past the building had been Tuscan order, wooden and tetrastyle, by the time it was rebuilt in the Corinthian order the architrave would have been stone, not wood. Given the known size of the building, spanning the front with a stone architrave supported by only four columns would have been impossible. Indeed, it is also shown elsewhere as Corinthian order and hexastyle (six columns). What we learn from this is that Romans took a lot of liberties when they portrayed buildings in art.
Every aspect of this design is based on features found in Roman coins, either of the Republic or of the early Empire. Later coins were ignored. The figures on the obverse are all based on extant statues.
The building is topped by a quadriga (as it actually was) that is coming toward the viewer. Only the fronts of the horses are shown. The roof is bordered by seashell antefixi. the pedimental sculpture is a "vajra" lightning bolt. This pedimental decoration was actually shown on Capitolium coins of the Republic. It is a very important symbol, appearing in a somewhat altered form on Roman shields. This vajra also figures importantly in Buddhist art, symbolizing power and authority. It is believed that the vajra was taken into Buddhist art at a very early period, under the influence of Hellenistic art, which also transmitted conventions of pose and draping. Thus the vajra, well attested to in Roman art, forms a bridge across continents, cultures and ages, always as a symbol of power. Only we Romans retain it in anything like its original context.
The building shown here is Corinthian order. Note that the fluting is drawn to suggest the roundness of the columns, with the center flute being somewhat wider than the flanking ones. A Capitolium coin from the time of Domitian showed the columns this way, and it is a very dramatic feature, fine and delicate but linear, forming part of the frame around the central figures. The columns and capitals will tax the die-cutter's art to the limit. The architrave is somewhat simplified and the dentils rather over sized, but again, they are still pushing the limit of the die-cutter's skill.
The figures, as mentioned above, are all based on extant sculptures and the poses are consistent with those on actual Roman coins.
Iuno on the left is shown as a proper and dutiful wife, wearing a stola but crowned with a diadem. She makes an offering from a patera while holding her staff in her hand.
Iuppiter is shown seated, holding his scepter which disappears out of view above. He catches his constant companion Victory in his hand, who offers him a wreath. Next to Iuppiter is a symbol of Terminus, who of all the Gods refused to make way for the Temple of Iuppiter, foreshadowing the stability of the city and the Romans.
On the right is Minerva, a dutiful daughter. She holds her spear and shield, showing, along with her stern look, that she is ready to defend family and home. She wears the aegis, adding to her fearsome look, but it is possible to see that she is still a young woman. Together with Iuno and Iuppiter she forms a family group, showing the central importance of the family to the Romans.
On the the obverse, we show Iuppiter in a quadriga (four-horse chariot), accompanied by Victoria, brandishing a thunderbolt. This image conveys no particular message – we felt that, for this first issue in what we hope will be a series, it was not appropriate to convey any too specific idea. The quadriga was chosen more because it is a dynamic and exciting image which works well on the relatively large scale of the sestertius (the largest of common Roman coins). Chariot-races are one of the activities most commonly associated with ancient Rome in the popular imagination, and we felt that this image would strike a chord with the wider public.
