Semis

The Semis (plural semisses) was valued at half an As (semi-as). During the early Roman Republic, the Semis was a large coin weighing around 160 grams. The first Semisses featured the head of Minerva on the obverse and a female head on the reverse. Later issues featured Saturn on the obverse and a prow on the reverse. After a break of many years, Augustus issued a semis late in his reign, followed by issues from Tiberius, Nero, Vespasian and Trajan after which the semis was only issued sporadically. A brief revival occurred under the reign of Trajan Decius.