Got some new coins on the mail. I really like the portrait of Vespasian, rough, realistic and not refined compared to the more stylised of Domitian. On the first coin the portrait is interesting as the minters didn't have a good ideá of how Vespasian looked like so early on in his reign which can be seen compared to the two other coins I've posted. Vespasian, Denarius Rome mint, 70 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG Laureate head of Vespasian right. Rev: COS ITER TR POT Aequitas standing left, holding scales and sceptre. RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) 21 (C) This coin is marked as common in RIC but is aparently hard to find in this condition. Titus under Vespasian, Denarius Rome mint, 77-78 AD Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS Laureate head of Vespasian right. Rev: COS VI in exergue; Oxen, two, yoked l. RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) 951 (R) Vespasian, Tetradrachme Antioche, Syria, 69 AD Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΟϹ ΟΥƐϹΠΑϹΙΑΝΟϹ Laureate head of Vespasian, r. Rev: ΕΤΟΥϹ ΝƐΟΥ ΙƐΡΟΥ Α Eagle with wreath in beak on a club to l.; in l. field, palm branch RPC II, 1970 Pedigree: This specimen comes from the Abdo Ayoub collection. Very rare with visible A on the reverse ΙƐΡΟΥ Α wich is often missing if I'm not mistaken.
That is a problem with CT. Someone posts their favorite specialty and we start a run on that as if there were not a thousand other interesting things out there. I resist Flavians as too popular to be bargains unless you know what you are doing. Maybe we should post praises on things we don't collect to take some of the pressure off what we want. What are the Coin Talk neglected areas of ancient coinage? We can't have covered them all, can we?
Very nice. I especially like the Titus. RIC 951 [VESPASIAN] is a coin I have been looking to add to my collection for some time. I have not found one that I loved so I have held off. Yours however, is very nice. As one of the collectors of Flavians who posts on this forum I say...the more the merrier. I would never try to dissuade anyone who wants to collect in a certain area. If you love it, collect it. I would also say that I enjoy the posts outside of my area of collecting. Does this inspire me to grab a coin from one of these areas of collecting? Sure it does, and I do not mind because I know next to nothing about anything at all. That is, I am always willing to learn something from those who are sharing their passions.
All I can say is that I see coins posted here on CT that I like and then I look for something similar for my collection. Even so, I have not been tempted to collect another specialty outside of the ones I'm already collecting.
Thanks, yupp lots of Flavian lovers on CT but I think it gives some flavour to the collecting? I understand what you mean Doug. It took me a good amount of time before I settled for an area to collect. I was thinking to start with the later centuries but the esthetics of the coins didn't speak to me. With most of the Julio Claudians out of my league I decided Flavians was a good fit considering price and quality. History is what I find most interesting so I prefer coins connected to historical events or persons. I'm thinking of starting a sub collection were the only rule is appeal and interesting historical connection. Just to take the pressure of finding "that" specific coin and also broaden my view and maybe stumble over something new interesting that I didn't know on the way. Thanks! Yeah happy to have found this one in such good condition. I also agree with you the more the merrier. I have no problem with people collecting the same areas. As a novice and new to the Flavians myself I'm glad for all the information more seasoned collectors are willing to help out with. Everybody are very encouraging and friendly on CT.
I can remember a time when I was really the only Flavian Fanatic posting regular on Forvm or CT ... needless to say it was lonely at times. I'm so glad there are now others with the same interest. Lovely coins @Spargrodan.
I feel alone with my sceatta-obsession. Yet I can't be the only one: prices are increasing every month and the number of bidders as well. Two poor vespasians in my collection: ROMAN IMPERIAL, Vespasian. Denomination: AR Denarius, minted: Rome, Italy; 76 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG: Head of Vespasian, laureate, right Rev: COS VII: Eagle with wings spread, standing front on low garlanded base, head left, holding thunderbolt in claws Weight: 2.76g; Ø:1.7mm. Catalogue: RIC II 847. Provenance: Ex private collection; acq.: 05-2019 Polished, and hence difficult to properly photograph: ROMAN IMPERIAL, Vespasian. Denomination: AR Denarius, minted: Rome, Italy; 69 - 70 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG: Head of Vespasian, laureate, right Rev: IVDAEA: Judaea seated right, hand tied behind her back; palm-tree, left Weight: 3g; Ø:17mm. Catalogue: RIC II 4. Provenance: Ex private collection; acq.: 04-2020 Part of group denari (ex jewelry?)
Great coins! I think everyone should start collecting Flavians, and stop collecting other Roman coins, like Caesar lifetime portrait coins, or denarii of Claudius, Caligula, Nero, Galba, etc.etc. That would make me pleased indeed. Here's a Flavian coin by the way
Right now I am collecting one of every emperor to Constantine UNLESS it's one that costs thousands, like Didius Julianus. It was neat that he was high bidder to be emperor in 193, but his coins are beyond my "Roman budget" at the moment. Went a bit off-track with the Severan Dyneasty women. I wasn't going to collect them, but when I found out they were "the real leaders" behind the teenage emperors, I starting looking for them. I'll have write up something about that.
@David Atherton Thanks! @gogili1977 Thanks, nice version you have yourself of the COS ITER TR POT. Hmm I guess prices are raising in all fields. I would bet corona and people having more time might be a reason? Nice coins there, like the shiny disco Judaea! Nice portrait on that coin! If everybody started to collect flavians and prices went down for the other areas I would jump into them as well. Not an easy task to collect all emperors, wish you best of luck!