A Rare Vespasian Variant

Call me an obsessive, but I just had to have this minor variant.


Vespasian
AR Denarius
Ephesus Mint, 71 AD
RIC 1434 (R), BMC 459 var., RSC 293 var., RPC 835 (14 spec.) var.
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS III TR P P P; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: PACI ORB TERR AVG; Bust of woman, draped, wearing crown of towers, r.; EPHE in l. field

RIC, alone among the major references, assigns a separate catalogue number to this rare variant with the mint mark behind the reverse bust. It's much more common to find the mint mark below bust. This variant seems to have been struck at a ratio of 1:10 compared with the common variety.

Vespasian's Ephesian series could keep a Flavian collector busy for several lifetimes.

Feel free to post your Vespasians, minor variants, or Ephesian gems.

 

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Okay. You're obsessive

But I really admire your focus and determination! That's a flavorful addition to your Flavian feast .

 

Not obsessive by any means. You're just all-consumed. Oh, and I really like this new coin.

 

no...i'd say your obsessive..like for sure.

but that's a dang fine lookin' coin!

 

Beautiful coin David. Great pickup. Here are my favourite coins of Vespasian.

 

*flaviusful

 

I just got a nice Bronze one on ebay for $5. got lucky

 

Nice one!

 

Neat find, David. Congrats.

 

Very nice coin, congrats.

 

I am posting my recent win on ebay. Not near as nice as the others but the nicest I own so far.

 

Had trouble with the pics, but here they are.

 

Bill, start a new thread with them.

 

I'm OK with both your obsession and TIF's statement. I would love to have the opportunity to obsess with that beautiful coin. Not being a Flavian fan, I really don't care about the location of the mintmark but I sure like that clear mark wherever it is. It strikes me that the bust is a little low in the field to have room for the mark to have been below it so that may be the sole/main/partial reason for the variation. Do you have a 'common' placement example to share for comparison? My only EPE is a Domitian with plenty of space in exergue so that is the obvious place for it.

 

Wonderful addition David!!! I LOVE that unusual variety!! Gorgeous coin!!!

I lack any of the type (Ephesus), so I'll just post a dupondius I picked up a while back:

Hmmm, Who is more 'obsessive', you or OKI ??? Or Martin??? LOL

 

I bought the more common variant almost a dozen years ago from an eBay seller now out of business (some may recognise the photography). The bust does indeed sit a little higher on this one. I like your theory.

 

You mentioned this coin is bronze - sorry to say it's actually a modern copy of a common denarius (RIC 546). If genuine, that coin would retail at minimum around $150.

 

This is not the one I purchased. This coin is on ebay right now selling for $250.It is located in Israel and they claim it is silver with a black patina. Thank you for the heads up. If you want to see it on ebay I will get you the item #. Thanks again.

 

Whew! Sorry, I thought this was the coin you purchased.

At any rate, I'd steer clear of it.