The colour and meaning of an emperor's coinage is found in the common coins, not the rarities. The common types were struck in plentiful numbers and seen by most of the population. They were deemed important enough to be struck in such large numbers. This common Vespasian Roma type is one such coin. Vespasian Æ Dupondius, 13.37g Rome mint, 71 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III; Head of Vespasian, radiate, r. Rev: ROMA in exergue; S C in field; Roma std. l. on cuirass, with wreath and parazonium; behind, shields RIC 279 (C2). BMC 591. BNC 569. Acquired from Aristos Coins, eBay, December 2019. One of the most common dupondius types struck during Vespasian's great bronze issue of 71 was this seated Roma. Mattingly in BMCRE II says this about the type - 'The wreath which Roma holds on the dupondius is the sign of Victory, or, perhaps rather the rejoicing for it.' This traditional guise of Roma dressed as a Greek Amazon is copied from the coinage of Nero. Celebrate your common coins!
This one has to be really common... even I have one! It was my first coin of Vespasian and also my first dupondius. I like the green patina of yours even as I've always enjoyed the 'Tiber' tone of mine. VESPASIAN AE Dupondius. 12.35g, 26.3mm. Rome mint, AD 71. RIC 279. O: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III, radiate head right. R: Roma seated left on cuirass, holding wreath and parazonium, two shields behind; S-C across fields, ROMA in exergue.
The Genio series of the late 3rd and early 4th centuries is very common, and its one of my favorites. Here are two from that series. Neither is of an emperor that I particularly admire, but I really like these two coins, the first because of the interesting coloration of the patina . . . Galerius (Maximian) Caesar, A.D. 293-305 Augustus, A.D. 305-311 Bronze Nummus Ticinum mint, A.D. 295-296 Obv: MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES Rev: GEONI POPV-LI ROMANI - Genius, modius on head, naked but for chlamys hanging from shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae ST in exergue RIC 30b 28mm, 9.9g. . . . and the second because of its pristine preservation: Maximinus II ("Daia") Caesar, A.D. 305-309 Filius Augustorum, A.D. 309-310 Augustus, A.D. 310-313 Bronze Nummus Antioch mint, A.D. 312 Obv: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG Rev: GENIO AVGVSTI - Genius, modius on head, naked but for chlamys hanging from shoulder, holding head of Sol and cornucopiae ANT in exergue; [star] in left field, S in right RIC 164b 22mm, 4.7g.
Common it may be, @David Atherton , it's a desirable coin with a lovely patina. Among the most common of all ancient Roman coins are the billon antoniniani of Gallienus. The Cunetio Hoard, buried in about AD 270, consisted of 54,951 coins, of which 30% were struck for Gallienus and his family. Of these, 2737 belonged to the "zoo" series. Based upon studies of that hoard and others, it is estimated that 14% of Gallienus' total coins minted belong to the zoo series. Of the coins of the zoo series, almost half bear the DIANAE CONS AVG reverse inscription and depict various cloven-hooved animals associated with the goddess Diana, such as stags, does, antelopes and gazelles. So, they don't get much more common than this, which deserves to be celebrated in this thread: Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman billon Antoninianus, 3.53 g, 20.1 mm, 1 h. Rome, AD 267-268. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head, right. Rev: DIANAE CONS AVG, stag walking right; X I in exergue. Refs: RIC 179K; Göbl 745b; Cohen 157; RCV 10201.
A point collectors need continual reminding of. Sometimes I find myself pining away for rarities and treating common coins with a bit of contempt. But as material artifacts of a culture, the common coins are much more significant.
Nice addition David! This one is so common it's C2 Vespasian sestertius MP CAES VESPAS AVF TR P P P COS III Laureate head of Vespasian right SC in field Mars advancing right with spear and trophy Rome, 71 AD 26.95g RIC 247 (C2) Kraay counted 12 reverse dies used for this obverse type. Ex-CNG; Ex-Calgary Coin Some old cleaning scratches in fields but lovely brown patina and portait
