In Honour of Divus Vespasian

Vespasian died of a stomach ailment at Reate, Italia 1,939 years ago today. Considered one of the 'good' Twelve Caesars by Suetonius, he did much to restore the empire after the disastrous Year of the Four Emperors and set it on a successful course for the next 150 years.



Vespasian
AR Denarius, 3.08g
Rome mint, 71 AD
RIC 49 (R2). BMC p. 14 note. RSC 643 var.
Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: No legend. Vespasian laureate, standing in triumphal quadriga r., horses pacing, holding branch in r. hand and sceptre in l.
Acquired from Ephesus Numismatics, December 2005.

The reverse celebrates Vespasian and Titus' joint Judaean Triumph at Rome in 71, probably one of Vespasian's proudest moments. I believe this would be one of Vespasian's favourite reverses.

This triumphal type is normally encountered from Antioch, this is the very rare Rome mint version. Why it wasn't struck in vast numbers at Rome is a mystery.

Please share you favourite coins of Vespasian.

 

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Great coin David. I have so many "favorite" Vespasian coins but here's one at the top of my list



RIC 1464 Vespasian Ephesus denarius

IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS V TR PPP
Laureate head right

CONCORDIA AVG
Concordia seated left, annulet below, star in Exergue

3.41g

Ephesus 74 AD

RIC 1464 (R2)

And one from Titus proclaiming Vespasian's divinity



RIC 361 Vespasian denarius by Titus

DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS
Laureate head of Divus Vespasian to right.

EX S C
Empty quadriga advancing left, ornamented with a miniature quadriga flanked by Victories at the top and two standing figures on the side.

Rome, 80-1 AD
3.24g

RIC II 361 (Titus); BMCRE 119 (Titus); RSC 146

 

Nice one, David! My favorite coin of Vespasian is one I don't yet have

This is a my favorite Vespasian but I don't have many from which to choose.


EGYPT, Alexandria. Vespasian
year 4, CE 71/2
Diobol (very underweight; thin flan), 25.4 mm, 5.45 gm
Obv: AVTOKKAIΣΣEBAOVEΣΠAΣIANOV; laureate head right
Rev: bust of Isis left; LΔ in right field
Ref: Emmett 217.4

 

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

 

Quality instead of quantity. That is a superb Alexandrian!

Remarkable how that portrait resembles the ones on the tetradrachms. Evidently, the same engravers worked on both the billon and bronze.

Vespasian
AR Tetradrachm, 12.72g
Alexandria mint, 69-70 AD
RPC 2416 (7 spec.).
Obv: AYTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r., date LB before neck
Rev: Τ ΦΛΑΥΙ ΟΥΕΣΠΑΣΙΑΝΟΣ ΚΑΙΣ; laureate head of Titus, r.
Ex CNG E377, 29 June 2016, The Hermanubis collection, lot 28.

 

My favorite which I've shown a number of times:

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

 

Great post David. I have several coins of Vespasian, but I think I will limit my reply to this one from the E.E. Clain Stefanelli collection. RIC 544.

 

These two are my favorites at the moment.


DIVUS VESPASIAN
AR Denarius. 3.06g, 19mm. Rome mint, struck under Titus, AD 80-81. RIC II 357 (Titus); RSC 497. O: DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS, laureate head right. R: Two capricorns back to back, supporting shield inscribed S C set on globe.
Ex Dr Walter Neussel Collection


VESPASIAN
AR Denarius. 3.05g, 18.4mm. Rome mint, 21 October 69 - early 70. RIC 2; Cohen 226; BMC 35; Hendin 1479. O: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right. R: Judaea seated right on ground in attitude of mourning, trophy set on shields behind her; IVDAEA in exergue.
Ex Prof. Dr. Hilbrecht Hommel Collection, with tag noting acquisition date 15 Feb 1943

 

great info and coin David.. my best pic is of the group, but i guess my fav is the toned one of him Vespasian & Sons Inc.

 

Very nice Triumphal @David Atherton . Love the simple reverse design... no legend, just a great scene. Reminds me of RR Denarii, like Sulla's

RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AR Quinarius Victory seated wreath palm RIC 802 Rare


RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AE Dupondius Felicitas stdg caduceus cornucopia sinister left

 

Were any of all the Caesars especially "good" ? With respect to Suetonius, I wonder.....

 

I have about a half-dozen examples of Vespy issues, and although the below coin isn't the highest grade or prettiest of the little group -- it is my favorite.

 

Well, it's time for a consecration issue then


Vespasianus, Antoninianus Rome mint AD 250/251
DIVO VESPASIANO Radiate head right
CONSECRATIO Large altar
4.13 gr
Ref : RIC IV # 80, Cohen # 652, RCV # 9461
in qblay's catalog : VE31/P178

Q

 

Having, just briefly, studied Suetonius and Michael Grant about Vespasian, although he was not a "saint", and shared some of the faults and discrepancies as many Caesars, for instance the occasional execution, in comparison, he appears to have been a, relatively, "good" Caesar. He had a sense of humour, and some of his jokes live on. Critically, while governor of Judea, his task was to suppress the First Jewish Revolt. The Roman Empire was no modern democracy, and many lands were also attacked around that time. He celebrated Brutus' and Cassius' birthdays each year. They had assassinated Julius Caesar, who himself had innumerable deaths to his name. Vespasian had banished Helvidius, and ordered his execution. Suetonius says that "His (Vespasian) one serious failure was avarice", and, further on, "Some claim that greed was in Vespasian's very bones. It would appear that, together with some better qualities, he did have a reputation for stinginess - although there may well be some occasions when he showed generosity.

 

I have shown my favorite coins of Vespasian too many times here when he has come up before. Instead I will show a Provincial AE22 of Philadelphia in Lydia with Zeus. The reverse legend is not complete but shows the need for a second row to include two magistrate names and the city. Perhaps I have been on Coin Talk too long but I would like to show different coins if only I knew which ones I have shown before.
https://www.cngcoins.com/Search.asp...1&SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_4=1&VIEW_TYPE=0

 

My 2 favourite Vespasians , a high grade and a low grade:

 

Curious... I always liked Vespasian, based on my readings in History.

However, I cannot help to notice that to what I have read about Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf; Vespasian and Schwarzkopf seem similar in personalities (to the good).


RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AR Denarius Jupiter Sacrificing IOVI CONSERVAT

 

Some real beauties so far! I'll bring it back to the quadrigas from Rome.

Vespasian:


Titus:

 

Vespasian, AD 1 Jul 69-24 Jun 79
AR, Denarius, 3.09g, 18mm; 6h; Rome, Jan-Jun AD 70
Obv.: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; laureate head right
Rev.: COS ITER TR POT; Pax seated left on chair without back, branch in right hand, caduceus in left

This is my only Vespasian so it's my favorite by default!

I take my history dispassionately, it's useless to use contemporary morals to make judgement calls on the behavior of the ancients.

 

A consecration issue is on my want list. Very nice!