How much does 1 sestertius equal to?

Answer 1

The sestertius was worth 2.5 aes (singular as). It was a quarter of a denarius during most of Roman history.

The as was the original copper coin of Rome, introduced around 280 BC as a cast coin. At first it was huge, and weighed about a pound. In fact the denomination was divided into 12 uncia, and the word uncia was the source of both inch and ounce.

This original as became badly inflated over a fairly short time. The original as became a rather small coin. At that time, the sestertius was a copper coin with about the same diameter and twice the thickness of a US half dollar.

Since the denarius, a silver coin about the size of a US dime, was a day's pay for a common worker and would buy about twenty loaves of bread, the sestertius was a quarter of a day's pay and would buy about five loaves of bread.