RIP Vespasian (Better Late than Never)

Vespasian died on 23 June 79 AD. Let's honour the old man by posting your favourite Vespasian coins!

Here is one of mine. I've had this coin for 12 years now and never get tired of looking at this typical "straining" portrait. Struck just months prior to his death.

AR Denarius
Rome mint, 79 AD
RIC 1058(C), BMC 251, RSC 554
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l.
Rev: TR POT X COS VIIII; Capricorn l. : below, globe

 

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RIP, Vespasian. My only coin of his is this aureus, from the Boscoreale hoard, buried under the ash of Mt. Vesuvius until it's excavation in 1895. While gold doesn't tone, this toning is produced by the alloyed metals reacting with the volcanic ash over the centuries.



Through some luck and a lot of catalog reading, I've taken it from no pedigree to an essentially unbroken pedigree back to its burial in ancient Pompeii:

Calico reference guide plate coin (number 604)
Ex. Lanz Auction 70, lot 166 (Nov 1994), the collection of Margaretha Ley, one of the most famous and successful personalities in the world of fashion
Ex. Bank Leu Auction 30, lot 326 (Apr 1982)
Ex. Leo Biaggi de Blasys (coin 306, formed from the 1950s-1960s)
Ex. Auktion Glendining (Jan 14, 1953), lot 22
Ex. J.C.S Rashleigh collection (formed ca. 1920)
Ex. Boscoreale Hoard of 1895

 

Hard to follow such beautiful pieces. Here is one of my favorites.
Roman Empire, Vespasian Denarius
AD 69-79. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.03 g, 6h). Judaea Capta - Rome mint. Struck circa 21 December AD 69-early AD 70.
O: Laureate head right
R: IVDAEA in exergue, palm tree; to right, Jewess, arms bound behind, seated right. RIC II 4; Hendin 1480; RSC 229.

 

VESPASIAN
Æ Dupondius
OBVERSE: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS V CENS, radiate head left
REVERSE: FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding caduceus & cornucopiae
Struck at Rome, 74AD
10.2g, 28mm
RIC 716, (RIC [1962] 555), Cohen 152, BMC 698
Ex: J.Q. Adams
lot 785 of the John Quincy Adams sale (Stacks, 1971) purchased by Christian Blom. Chris sold it to Mendel Peterson of the Smithsonian Institution (it comes with his tag) who sold it to Gene Brandenberg, Trojan Antiques.

 

Here is my only coin of Vespasian.
RIC II, 360
Obv: IMP CAES VESP AUG PM COS IIII
Rev: VES-TA Vesta standing left

 

man, there's some sweet coin on this thread.

here' my only vespasian....

 

One of the gems of my collection. I have always been a fan of the old general.


Vespasian. A.D. 69-79. Æ sestertius (32 mm, 25.01 g, 6 h). Rome, A.D. 71.

IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head of Vespasian right

PAX AVGVSTI, S C across field, Pax standing, facing, head left, holding olive branch and cornucopiae.

RIC 181; BMC 554; BN 512-5.

ex Charles Darrah Collection (Triskeles Auction 12, lot 175)

 

I post mine great ones
Vespasian Cos II Mars


Vespasian Cos III mars


Vespasian As AEQVITAS

 

Wonderful coins in this thread! Since it is a RIP Vespasian thread, I'll add my recent Divus Vespasian acquisition.


DIVUS VESPASIAN
Struck under Titus
AR Denarius
3.23g, 17.6mm
Rome mint, AD 80-81
RIC Titus 362 (R2)
O: DIVVS VESPASIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right.
R: EX S C, ornate tensa right, surmounted by two Victories.

 

AR Denarius

 

This Judaea Capta makes me jealous. It is hard to find this coin where the drapery of the Jewess is so well defined. My Vespasian Judaea Capta is not nearly as nice. Also, I have a Bar Kokhba zuz with a Vespasian undertype. I'm sorry, but I can't get a photo to come out.

 

All the coins on this site are super

 

Nemo's coin points out there are two major variations of this popular type. His shows the more scarce palm tree option; mine, below, shows a trophy of arms. I find it interesting that the tree is smaller than the figure on the ground while the trophy is closer to proportional. Is this consistent for the type? Does any one els have one to show?

 

I was gonna post a thread on this but we've had other vespasian threads over the years so I didnt bother.


Vespasian (69 - 79 A.D.)
AR Tetradrachm
ANTIOCH, SYRIA, 69 A.D.
O: AVTOKPATWP KAICAP CEBACTOC OVECPACIANOC, laureate head right
R: ETOYC NEOY IEPOY A, Eagle standing left on club, palm branch in left field.
23mm
14.4g
RPC 197


Vespasian (69 - 79 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O:IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII, Laureate head right.
R: AVGVR (above) TRI POT (below), simpulum, aspergillum, jug & lituus.(emblems of the augurate and potificate)
Rome Mint 71 - 72 A.D.
17.5mm
3.3g
RIC p. 1, 356 SRCV 2282 BMCRE 64

 

VESPASIAN - Died A.D. 79
AR Denarius - Rome Mint
A.D. 80-81 - under Titus

2.85 grams, 18 mm.
Obv: Vespasian laurel head right DIVVS.AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS
Rev: S.C. on shield supported by globe and foreparts of two Capricorns back-to-back
Grade: a solid Very Fine coin with perfect obverse centering and clear legends. Reverse is only slightly off center including all details.
Other: Commemorative coin struck by Titus after Vespasian’s death.
Sear page 126 #811. From Eye Appealing Coins June 2014.

 

This belongs in TIF's "looks-like" thread:

 

This is my example of the type. The obverse is double-struck, the flan oblong and it probably would not past muster with folks looking for quality. However, I bought it for the wonderful reverse featuring an almost full beaded border, unusual for the early issues.




I can't imagine an engraver being able to keep the emphasis on the captive while maintaining more accurate proportions with the palm. Also as pointed out, these were struck sparingly compared to the regular trophy version, for what reason I don't know.

 

I wasn't aware of the trophy type. Now I have another coin for my wish list.

 

What an odd way to cite a British auction firm. Did we lose the war in your timeline? ;-)

Lovely coin.