I got this beauty in the mail today. AR Tetradrachm Alexandria mint, 69 AD RPC 2404 (16 spec.) Obv: AYT TIT ΦΛAYI OYEΣΠAΣIAN KAIΣ; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: ALEΞANΔPEIA; Alexandria standing, l., with wreath and sceptre F+ Alexandria struck the very first coinage for Vespasian in July and August of 69 after the legions under Tiberius Alexandria hailed him as emperor on 1 July. This coin is dated to his first regnal year at Alexandria and was minted in those heady days. The portrait is similar to those struck for Vitellius, most likely because the engravers had no image of Vespasian to go by. According to Tacitus (Hist. III, 48) he had not yet arrived in Alexandria by the time reports of the battle of Cremona reached him in the middle of November. Fittingly on the reverse, Alexandria (or Alexander the Great?) is seen here offering a victor's wreath, presumably to Vespasian, and holding a sceptre. It's difficult to find these Alexandrian tets in decent condition. They are typically well circulated and worn and this example is no exception, but it's nicely toned and the heavy wear has not been too unkind.
Love the circulated cameo look to it. I have a few ancients like that. It's my preferred type of toning.
Thank you all for the kind comments! I really do love these early year one tets of Vespasian from Alexandria (or should I say AΛEΞANΔPEIA?). They were only struck for 2 months, most types from the issue are not extremely rare. The rate of production must have been high indeed!
cool coin V70, i've always dug these alexandrian tets. interesting that the year is on the obverse as well.
Sweet coin, Vespasian! Here is my only example of the"only man that improved" EGYPT, Alexandria. Vespasian, with Titus as Caesar. AD 69-79. BI Tetradrachm (22mm, 12,83 g, 12h). Dated RY 8 (AD 75/6). Laureate head of Vespasian right; L H (date) below chin / Laureate head of Titus right. Dattari (Savio) 347-9; RPC 2447.
