Finally I've come to the end of my recent NAC wins ... another early military/uncertain mint denarius struck for Vespasian. It may not be much to look at, but it's a very special addition IMHO. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.13g Uncertain mint, 69-71 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: SECVRITAS P R; Securitas std. l., with sceptre RIC 1375A (R2). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -. Ex NAC 125, 24 June 2021, lot 512. Ex Harry Sneh Collection. An uncertain mint in the western provinces produced this extremely rare denarius for Vespasian sometime near the end of the Civil War of 69 AD. These denarii contain some stylistic affinities with contemporary Spanish coins, but more decisively, recent metal analysis by K. Butcher and M. Ponting show the silver content is almost identical to that of the Spanish issues. It is very likely these early military denarii were struck in Spain in late 69 soon after the province went over to Vespasian. The upward gaze and unVespasian-like portraits are hallmarks of the issue. This is the second know example of the denarius Securitas type struck for the series (this coin cited in the RIC A&C). The first one was discussed on the Forvm discussion board in 2007. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=38431.msg243240#msg243240 It later became the RIC plate coin for the newly discovered type. Certainly a most appropriate and valuable propaganda type coming out of a Civil War! Please feel free to share your coins featuring Securitas.
Cool coin, @David Atherton! And never apologize for the condition of a coin known by only two specimens! You take what you can get! I have a couple of Securitas coins, both from the third century. Geta as Caesar, AD 198-209. AR denarius, 3.24 gm, 18.3 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 202. Obv: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, bare-headed and draped bust, r. Rev: SECVRIT IMPERII, Securitas enthroned l., holding globe. Refs: RIC-20; BMC-240; Cohen-183; Sear-7200; Hill-553. Quintillus, AD 270. Roman billon antoninianus, 2.95 g, 20 mm. Rome, 11th officina, issue 1, end AD 270. Obv: IMP C M AVR CL QVINTILLVS AVG, bust right, radiate, cuirassed and draped with paludamentum, seen from the front. Rev: SECVRIT AVG, Securitas standing left, legs crossed, holding short scepter in right hand, leaning on column with left elbow; officina mark XI in right field. Refs: RIC 31; MER/RIC temp 1194; Cohen 63; RCV 11451; Normanby 1197; Hunter 17.
That pretty much can be said about the whole early uncertain mint/military denarii struck for Vespasian in late 69 and early 70. The series has personally been a source of endless fascination ever since I began collecting Flavian coins 18 years ago. I never would've dreamed I could pick up not one, not two - but four of them all in one go. That NAC auction was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thank you to everyone who commented and responded to all my threads on these intriguingly mysterious coins!
Nice pick up! @David Atherton...The actual portrait is quite nice.... Here's Securitas Standing.... Helena.. RIC VII Siscia 204
AWESOME find, @David Atherton ... very nice! My only SECVRITAS Obverse: FL HELENA-AVGVSTA: Pearl-diademed, mantled bust right, wearing pearl necklace, Magnia Urbica fashion hair style, diadem as broad band decorated with a single string of pearls Reverse: SECVRITAS-REIPVBLICE:, Securitas standing facing, head left, branch downward in right hand, raising robe with left. Mintmark SMN Gamma in ex. Mint: Nicomedia Minted: 325-326 AD Dia: 19 mm Wt: 3.3 gm Orient: 360 Ref: RIC-95,Sear 16619 light brown patina
Wow @David Atherton that is yet another superb acquisition. I find it amazing that you have added several of these. Until this auction I had not seen one from this mint for sale for 5 years! That sale was a once in a lifetime opportunity for a Flavian collector. Here is my secvritas but it is Titus and not Vespasian. It is however, a very rare coin. Titus as Caesar 75 CE AR Denarius 20 mm 3.30 g Obv: Head laureate r; T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN Rev: Securitas seated l; head resting on raised arm; PONTIF TR P COS IIII Ric 784 (R2) [Vespasian] BMC--, RSC--. Not in the RIC plates. Purchased from Zurqieh on vcoins; April 18, 2019
That's a very cool coin The coin that would help open the door for Vespasian to take over: CIVIL WAR, 68-69 CE, Den, fouree, Mint in Southern Gaul. VESTA PR QVIRITVM, veiled and draped bust of Vesta; torch to right, r/IO MAX CAPITOLINVS, Jupiter std in Distyle temple, with wreath in pediment and containing Jupiter seated left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; RIC 128; Frank Robinson’s notes “F or so BUT much patchy core exposure, somewhat off-ctr, lgnds crude & partly off; bust clear; but pretty ugly. Or, as a certain deity would say, "A beautiful coin, folks, believe me, a beautiful coin, I can tell you that." But Very rare. Ex: Frank Robinson
