It too me ages to find one. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.15g Rome mint, 69-70 AD RIC 1396 (R2), BMC 431, RSC 280b, RPC 806 (2 spec.) Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: PACI AVGVSTAE; Victory, advancing l., holding wreath in extended r. hand and palm curving up in l. Acquired from Pars Coins, September 2017. Ex Hirsch 326, 16 February 2017, lot 1924. Ex Savoca Live Auction 9, 21 August, 2016, lot 532. Ephesus struck a small issue of denarii for Vespasian between 69 and 74. The vast majority of these Ephesian denarii have a mintmark of one sort or another. Those without one are preciously rare. The earliest and rarest are undated with no mint mark and were minted in late 69 or early 70. This unmarked type with Victory on the reverse has been a most elusive one to acquire! Very scarce in trade. Show off those Ephesian coins!
Great Denarius! Definitely a different view of Vespasian! So many of his profiles have a similar look—some almost resemble the character Mr. Pickwick from Charles Dickens. This portrait looks like it was created by someone who may have actually seen Vespasian and was not just imitating the portrait from previous coins.
Great catch David. I saw that one and was captured by the portrait. Very nice catch. Here is my Vespasian denarius from Ephesus. Also a rare coin. Roman Empire, Vespasian 69-79, Denarius, (18.02 mm 3.44g) 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
Mine has the mintmark just left of Victory's feet exactly where yours has a squiggle that I would have taken (only from the photo) as a remnant of the mintmark. I assume you have looked at it with a stereo microscope and determined that it is roughness rather than a remnant.
Ephesus produced some of the most stylish Flavian portraits. Even when the portraits are subpar they are better than most other mints.
Yes, the coin has been thoroughly examined and that 'squiggle' is just a rough patch. The lighting in the Hirsch photo above exaggerates it. Here is the dealer's photo from whom I purchased the piece.