I believe I now own a dozen Vespasian coins, yet I had to have another. Actually, what drew me to this coin was the variation of the portrait style. It reminds me of Otho with a slightly hooked nose. So, because it's somewhat different from my other Vespasian coins, I was able to justify buying another. Is there a better reason? VESPASIAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right REVERSE: COS ITER TR POT, Pax seated left, holding branch and caduceus Struck at Rome, 69-71 AD 3.31g, 18mm RIC 29; RSC 94h; Sear 2285 Seller's note: There is a very large number of different versions of the emperor's head of this coin type. Some are quite young, some a bit haggard with a long pointed nose, some noses hooked, some his usual chubby self, others with hair resembling a wig. Please post your Vespasian coins or coins with interesting portraits.
I like that cool hybrid portrait very much. Very nice catch. As far as I am concerned your reasoning is perfectly legitimate. I only have 5 coins of Vespasian. 4 of them are on Wildwinds. Vespasian, 69-79 A.D. AR Denarius, 3.16g. 21.41mm. Rome, 73 A.D. Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG CENS. Laureate head of Vespasian to right. Rev: MAXIM PONTIF. Nemesis walking to right holding caduceus over snake. C 385, RIC 544. SRCV I (2000) 2304 Ex: E. E. Clain-Stefanelli collection. Ex: Numismatica Ars Classica - Auction 92 Part 2, Lot 2133 May 24, 2016; Ex: Ed waddell Coin depicted in the Wildwinds.com database. Vespasian. AD 69-79. AR Denarius Rome mint. Struck AD 74. (18.47 mm, 3.39 g, 6h). Obv: IMP CAESAR VESP AUG Laureate head right Rev: PONTIF MAXIM Vespasian seated right, holding scepter and branch. RIC II 685; BMCRE pg. 27 ; RSC 386. SRCV 1 (2000) 2305. Ex: J. Eric Engstrom Collection Ex: CNG E-auction 373, Lot 366 April 20, 2016 Vespasian (69-79). AR Denarius (18.08mm, 3.50g, 6h). Rome, AD 75. Obv: Bare head l. R IMP CEASAR VESPASIANUS AUG Rev: Pax seated l., resting l. elbow on throne and holding branch. PON MAX TRP COS VI RIC II 773 (this coin); RSC –. Extremely Rare variety, near VF. Ex Vecchi sale 13, 1998, 757. Ex: St Paul Antiques auction 7 Lot 285 June 11, 2017 Coin depicted in the Wildwinds.com database. Roman Empire, Vespasian 69-79, Denarius, 3.24g: Obv: Laureate head of Vespasian right "IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS II TRPPP" Rev: "AVG" within an wreath, Phi-Alpha monogram above ties. "AVG" in the center. RIC 1414. Ephesos mint, Some roughness on the reverse. Ex Savoca Auction #9, lot 533 8/21/16, realized 350 Euro + buyer's fee Lot 152 Aegean Nuismatics Agora Auctions July 20. 2017. Coin depicted in the Wildwinds.com database Egypt, Alexandria. Dattari. Vespasian, 69-79 Diobol circa 70-71 (year 3), Æ 26.5mm., 9.15g. Laureate head r. Rev. Bust of Isis r.; in front, LΓ. RPC 2430 (this coin cited). Dattari-Savio Pl. 14, 382 (this coin). Brown tone. Very Fine. From the Dattari collection. Naville Numismatics Auction #30, Lot 283, April 02, 2017. Coin depicted in the Wildwinds.com database.
Nice portrait on it, I like it too. Vespasian (69 - 79 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria AR Tetradrachm O: AYTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OYVEΣΠAΣIANOY; Head of Vespasian, laurerate, r., date LΓ before neck R: No Legend; Nike flying l., with wreath and palm. Alexandria mint, 70-71 AD 12.82g 25mm RPC 2423 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
WAY COOL @Bing ! I wonder since the Civil Wars and multiple Emperors confounded all the Celators... reference busts get all confused... Oooops... OTHO face for Vespy-man! RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AR Quinarius Victory seated wreath palm RIC 802 Rare RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AR Denarius Jupiter Sacrificing RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AE Dupondius Felicitas stdg caduceus cornucopia sinister left
An excellent reason to buy another coin Bing. Here's one of mine with protruding nose and jutting chin but minus the wig. Definitely one of my favorite portraits in my collection.
Even though it is probably pure speculation, I would imagine that the lapse in time between the enthronement of a new emperor and the arrival of an image to work from at the mint would lead to some portraits being guesstimated when in doubt.
Nice addition @Bing I started to do a mini Vepasian collection but got side tracked. I bought this one last year from one of our newer members but can't recall who it was right now. Nor have I gotten around to taking my own pics.
I do enjoy Vespasian and I enjoy the coin you posted above. To me it looks like a cross between Vespasian and Nerva (mostly because I am not that familiar with the coins of Otho). I only have a few coins of Vespasian. I do look forward to adding more of his coins and the other Flavians in the future. I did pick up a nice coin from Josh at Civitas at the CICF this year. Keeps that spark smoldering!
Some really cool Vespasian coins posted so far. Your last coin, the dupondius looks very much like my coin from Your last coin, the dupondius looks very much like my coin from from the John Quincy Adams collection: 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
@Orfew I can see why you have those coins on WW. That is a very high quality selection of silver. @Mat You know how I feel about your Egyptian stuff. Boom. @Nemo That coin is ridiculous. I mean I almost hope the pic is photoshopped because that coin just pops out off of the screen.
Yours looks great, less wear than mine with the radiant crown more pronounced. Great coin and provenance!
A good solid Vespasian denarius! Many of these seated Pax types were struck before Vespasian's arrival in Rome - I think yours is one of those. A very interesting portrait to say the least! I had to go back and look at my example too. A Vespasian with a full head of hair! Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.39g Rome Mint, 69-70 AD RIC 29 (C3), BMC 26, RSC 94h Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: COS ITER TR POT; Pax, draped, seated l., holding branch extended in r. hand and winged caduceus in l. Acquired from Hail Cesare, eBay, August 2004.
Sounds like a good enough reason to me! My RIC 29 is quite a bit more worn, but I think the portrait is a little closer to Bing's example than to David's.
Better? You do not need a reason to want more coins of a fine looking fellow like Vespasian. When you look like that, 'unusual' is hard to define in only a dozen coins.
