View source for Semis

{{Short description|Roman bronze coin}}
{{Other uses|Semi (disambiguation){{!}}Semi}}
{{For|the French wine grape|Semis rouge}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2024}}
{{Italics title}}
[[Image:Vecchi 009.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Cast ''semissis'']]
[[Image:Semisse.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]

The '''''semis''''' ({{literally|half of an as}}) was a small Roman bronze coin that was valued at half an ''[[As (Roman coin)|as]]''. During the [[Roman Republic]], the ''semis'' was distinguished by an 'S' (indicating ''semis'') or 6 dots (indicating a theoretical weight of 6 ''[[Uncia (coin)|unciae]]''). Some of the coins featured a bust of [[Saturn_(mythology)|Saturn]] on the obverse, and the prow of a ship on the reverse.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coin - Semis, Aes Grave, Ancient Roman Republic, 225-217 BC |url=https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1332743 |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Museums Victoria Collections}}</ref>

Initially a [[Metal casting|cast]] coin, like the rest of Roman Republican bronzes, it began to be struck from dies shortly before the [[Second Punic War]] (218–201 BC).
Following the [[Augustus|Augustan]] Coinage reforms of 23 BC the ''semis'' became the smallest [[orichalcum]] (brass) denomination, having twice the value of a copper ''[[quadrans]]'' and half the value of the copper ''as''. Its size and diameter corresponded directly to the ''quadrans'', so its value was attained from brass having double the value of copper. The coin was issued infrequently and it ceased to be issued by the time of [[Hadrian]] (117–138 AD).

In the early Imperial period, a ''semis'' could buy a ''cerae'' (wax writing tablet).

==See also==
*[[Roman currency]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Semissis}}
{{Roman coinage}}

[[Category:Coins of ancient Rome]]
[[Category:Numismatics]]
[[Category:Bronze coins]]


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[[ca:Llista de monedes romanes#Semis]]