Sestertius of Titus – The Colosseum in Handcrafted Silver

This 2 troy ounce .999 fine silver tribute brings the imagery of a Roman sestertius into an antiqued, ultra-high-relief medal. The Colosseum and the seated emperor Titus connect the design to one of Rome’s most famous buildings, while hand fabrication gives each piece its own outline and character. “Orichalcum” in the title refers to the brass of the ancient coin type; this modern tribute is struck in fine silver.

A Monument on a Roman Coin

The British Museum preserves a brass sestertius of Titus showing the Colosseum. Planned under Vespasian, the amphitheater was dedicated and opened by his son Titus in AD 80. Placing the building on coinage carried an image of the imperial project into a small, portable object. The design links architectural achievement with the ruler associated with its opening.

Design Details

The obverse depicts Rome’s Flavian Amphitheater, better known as the Colosseum. The reverse shows Titus seated on a curule chair, holding a branch and scroll, with piles of arms below on either side. The surrounding inscription reads “IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII,” with “S – C” in the field. Together, the two sides preserve the ancient design’s combination of public monument and imperial authority.

Made by Hand, Struck Hot

The edges are hand-hammered before the medal is hot struck beneath high-relief dies. Each piece is centered by eye while red hot and struck without a retaining collar. This process creates an irregular outline and individual character rather than the uniform edge of a conventionally collared round.

Note to collectors: Hand fabrication and hot striking produce small variations in shape, diameter and device centering. These are intended characteristics of the process. Care is taken to avoid glaring inclusions that would diminish eye appeal while retaining the character of the technique.

Specifications

• Weight: 2 troy ounces
• Purity: .999 fine silver
• Listed diameter: 36 mm; individual pieces vary
• Listed thickness: 5.5 mm
• Edge: Rough
• Finish: Antiqued

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