Despite the extremely slow delivery of USPS packages, this little rarity made it through from Europe. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.01g Ephesus Mint, 69-70 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: AVG on shield in oak wreath RIC 1393 (R3). BMC -. RSC -. RPC -. BNC -. Ex Künker eLive Auction 63, 30 November 2020, lot 195. An extremely rare Ephesian Group 1 denarius. This unique reverse design of AVG on shield would not be repeated for subsequent issues. Unlike most of the later Ephesian groups, the Group 1 denarii lack mint marks. Fourth known specimen, missing from all the major collections. The type was completely unknown until the first specimen surfaced at auction in 1998 (Schenk-Behrens 76, 26 Nov. 1998, lot 186 - the lone example cited by RIC). Needless to say I'm quite pleased to have acquired this ultra rare specimen for my Ephesian subspecialty! Please post your shields!
I like it too. It's a shame the less ornate oak wreath sans shield was the only variant to survive the issue.
I'm glad the coin arrived safe and sound, @David Atherton. While I've never lost a coin in the mail in 30+ years of collecting, I know that anxiety that comes from waiting for an extremely rare coin to arrive. It's that "If this is lost in the mail, I'll never have another opportunity to acquire another one as long as I live" feeling.
Stunning coin type Big coingrats!!! I have a lean, mean and green Vespy with shield to add to the pile of shields:
Fantastic addition David. Doesn't your coin show a laurel wreath? Here's mine with the oak wreath and two Vespasian countermarks. .
"David Atherton, post: 5295042, member: 82616"]Despite the extremely slow delivery of USPS packages, this little rarity made it through from Europe. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.01g Ephesus Mint, 69-70 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: AVG on shield in oak wreath RIC 1393 (R3). BMC -. RSC -. RPC -. BNC -. Ex Künker eLive Auction 63, 30 November 2020, lot 195. Do my old eyes see a theta or a phi laying on its side at the base of the wreath on the reverse?
Congratulations! Here's a Divus Vespasian shield, with SC on it: Then there are the "in action"-type shields, as on this Q. Thermus denarius. Note that the Roman's shield is always bigger: A pile of shields is always comfortable for Roma to sit on: (If the surface of this coin were a little less rough, it might have made my top 10, because it's a great type.) Finally, I always like Juno Sospita and her violin or figure-eight shield, a/k/a ancilia, probably an allusion to the mythological Shield of the Salii priests.* *David R. Sear states as follows in his online "Glossary of Frequently Encountered Terms in Roman Coin Descriptions" (also found in each volume of the Millennium Edition of Roman Coin Values): "Ancile a shield of distinctive form (narrow central section of oval shape with broad curving extensions at top and bottom). It was a particular attribute of Juno Sospita and was associated with the Salian priesthood of Mars." See https://www.davidrsear.com/academy/roman_glossary.html#Ancile. See also the discussion of the ancile at https://www.romanumismatics.com/historicarticles?view=article&article_id=509, with a photo of an example of an Augustus denarius (RIC 343) depicting two ancilia on the reverse. I wish I had a Boeotian shield to show. One of these days!
DOMITIAN AE23 OBVERSE: AVT KAISAR DOMITAINOS SEB, laureate head right REVERSE: KIONON MAKEDONWN, Macedonian shield Struck at Koinon of Macedonia, 81-96AD 8.2g, 23mm RPC 336, SNG Cop 1337, Moushmov 5881
You win twice, the coin and postal delivery before Christmas. Somebody up there likes you! Enjoyed your post, thank you.
I believe that is part of the wreath/tie design ... the same thing can be seen at 12 o'clock. Good eye!
