Favourite Flavians Poll

I really liked @zumbly's idea of 10 favourite coins put to a vote. This was a tough choice, but I think these are 10 I can never part with.



1. Vespasian
AR Denarius, 2.84g
Rome mint, 74 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR in exergue; Vespasian stg. r., with branch and sceptre, in quadriga r.
Rev: VESP AVG across field; Victory on prow r., with wreath and palm
RIC 688 (R). BMC 147. RSC 569. BNC 121.
Ex Nomos Obolos 4, 21 February 2016, lot 575. Ex GH Collection. Ex Superior Galleries, The Moreira sale, Part II, 10-11 December 1988, lot 2374.


2.
Vespasian
Æ Sestertius, 24.45g
Lyon mint, 71 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.; globe at point of bust
Rev: CAESAR AVG F DES IMP AVG F COS DES II; S C in exergue; Titus and Domitian stg. front, each with spear and parazonium
RIC 1132 (R). BMC 799. BNC -.
Acquired from Romae Aeternae, June 2019.


3.

Titus
AR Cistophorus, 10.64g
Rome mint (for Asia), 80-81 AD
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M•; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: CAPIT across field, RESTIT in exergue; Temple of Capitoline Jupiter with 4 columns enclosing figures of Juno, seated Jupiter and Minverva
RIC 515 (R). BMC spec. acquired 1948. RSC -. RPC 860 (3 spec.). BNC 111.
Acquired from Calgary Coin, 30 November 2015. Ex MS collection. Ex Berk 124, 3 January 2002, lot 448.


4.

Domitian
AR Denarius, 3.20g
Rome mint, 85 AD
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P IIII; Bust of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r., with aegis
Rev: IMP VIIII COS XI CENS POTES P P; Germania seated r. on shield; below, broken spear
RIC 331 (R2). BMC 82. RSC 181. BNC 84.
Ex Roma Auction V, 23 March 2013, lot 728.


5.

Vespasian
Æ Sestertius, 24.60g
Rome mint, 71 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: IVDAEA CAPTA; S C in exergue; Palm tree; to l., Vespasian stg. r. with spear and parazonium, foot on helmet; to r., Judaea std. r. on cuirass
RIC 167 (C3). BMC 543. BNC 497.
Acquired from Denarius, December 2018.


6.
Titus as Caesar
Æ Sestertius, 25.13g
Rome mint, 72 AD (Vespasian)
Obv: T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS II; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: S C in exergue; Titus stg. r., with branch and sceptre, in quadriga r.
RIC 431 (R). BMC 636. BNC 625.
Acquired from Wallinmynt, February 2019.


7.

Domitian
AR Cistophorus, 10.28g
Rome mint (for Asia), 95 AD
Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: Temple with two columns, inscribed ROM ET AVG in entablature, enclosing Augustus. stg. front to l., with spear, crowned by Roma to r., with cornucopiae; G in exergue
RIC 855 (C). BMC p. 352, *. RSC 407. RPC 875 (2 spec.). BNC -.
Acquired from Emerald Imports, eBay, May 2018.


8.

Domitian
AR Denarius, 2.73g
Rome mint, 95-96 AD
Obv: DOMITIANVS AVG GERM; Head of Domitian, bare, bearded, r.
Rev: Temple, eight columns, seated figure in centre; IMP CAESAR on architrave
RIC 816 (R2). BMC 243. RSC 175. BNC -.
Ex Private Collection.


9.

Domitian
AR Denarius, 3.06g
Rome Mint, 95-96 AD
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P; Maia adv. l., with dove and caduceus
RIC 786 (R2). BMC 237A. RSC 295. BNC -.
Ex Gemini XI, 12 January 2014, lot 418. Ex C. Clay Collection. Ex Voirol Collection, M&M 38, 6-7 December 1968, lot 403. Ex M&M VI, 6-7 December 1946, lot 804. This specimen published by H. A. Cahn, 'Flaviana indedita', Num. Chronicle 1946 p. 22, 50.


10.

Vespasian
AR Denarius, 3.60g
Uncertain mint, 69-71 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: IMPER below; Vespasian riding l., r. hand raised
RIC 1368 (R2). BMC 419. RSC 221. BNC 378.
Ex Künker 304, 19 March 2018, lot 1085.

 

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I like this! Great way for me to oogle some beautiful coins I will never own. I had to vote for #1. Anything with Victory on it is an automatic win for me. That quadriga is also very nice! Thanks for sharing!

 

I love them all, but your three temple types are standouts in my book, with the Titus AR Cistophorus the standout favorite. Great collection.

 

Decisions , decisions!!! You make this hard, but I voted for your dynastic sestertius, with three emperors on the same coin. Actually , you could consider it as having every single Flavian emperor of the entire dynasty on one coin!.

 

Wow David, so many exquisite Flavian rarities. Almost anyone of those would be a white whale for a collector of Flavian coins. I considered voting for the Maia denarius because it is not often seen. However, in the end I had to vote for the Germania Capta denarius. Not only a rare coin but an important coin. RIC surmises that Domitian's second coinage reform happened between the CENS POTES and the CENS POT reverse legends that directly followed I would love to have one of these. There is only one denarius type for Germania Capta. However there are more than 10 types of Germania Capta Aurei under Domitian.

 

I'm a sucker for a good portrait, all other attributes secondary, and I love the #5 Vespasian Judea Capta portrait. And Vespasian and Titus are my two favorite emperors, too, so now you owe me either a new keyboard or a good drool remover.

 

All are amazing... for me it would be between #6 and #10.... incredible.
I am partial to the sestertii so that breaks the tie.....#6 it is...

 

I like them all. But my favorite is the Germania Capta, the portrait, the style everything makes this coin beautiful. The dynastic Sestertius is also great.

 

For me, it's the #1 (Vespasian) for 2 main reasons:

(1) The horses - there is precise unison & a "regal" appearance. Yes, the #6, Titus also displays 4 steeds, but not the same way.

(2) Just the "honest" look of the coin. I can't define "honest" as I use it here, but I know it when I see it!

All are great, but #1 for me.

 

Another very tough choice. 1, 4, and 7 were all contenders, but, in the end, I could not resist the Judea Capta sestersius.

 

Wonderful coins, all of them. I voted for No. 4 because the artistry of Dejected Germania is just superb. She really looks sad.

 

I think we have a clear leader so far!

 

Gosh, David, so many wonderful coins... I'd consider any of them a prize if they were in my collection. The Germania denarius is exquisite, with the reverse so powerfully rendered. I really love the dynastic issue and of course the Judaea Capta sestertius. Ultiimately, though, I voted for Titus cistophorus, because, well... anguiped giants!

 

Yeah, I love that coin too. For many years it was one of my personal 'white whales'.
Thank you for coming up with such a great thread idea!

 

#10 for the artistic reverse iconography and atypical portrait.

 

I’m surprised that #7 Domitian Cistophorus isn’t getting more love. It is my favorite. I find architecture types that try to show you the inside spaces of buildings on something as small as a coin to be especially ambitious.

Of course, the Germania Capta is also great. The detail of the shield is especially great. Reminds me of the statue of the wounded Gaul. Great coins, David.

 

IMO, on a sheer "ooh, that's pretty!" basis, #7 is the hands down winner.

 

I voted for Germania Capta as well but it was a tough choice.

 

Mee toooo

 

Great coins I went for the Capta as well absolutely stunning reverse!