A Dynamite Dynastic Denarius

Once in a while you come across a coin that knocks your socks off. My latest acquisition is one such coin!



Vespasian
AR Denarius, 3.16g
Ephesus mint, 69-70 AD
Obv: IMP•CAES VESP•AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: LIBERI IMP AVG VESPAS; Heads of Titus, bare, r., and Domitian, bare, l., confronting; Φ in r. field
RIC 1402 (R3). BMC-. RSC-. RPC 810 (0 Spec.). BNC-.
Acquired from Kölner, February 2020.

Ephesus struck a small series of denarii for Vespasian between 69 and 74. The issue is divided into groups based on evolving legends and mint marks. The same stock reverse types were repeated throughout the series, with the dynastic types perhaps being the scarcest. This is a second known example of the Ephesian Group 2 confronting heads dynastic type with the Φ mint mark in right field. The other specimen (Munzhandlung Basel 6, 18 March 1936, lot 1619) is from the same die pair but in much poorer condition. This is the first Ephesian issue to strike this particular dynastic type which copies a contemporaneous one from Rome. These early issues are undated but likely were produced in either late 69 or early 70 soon after Vespasian's accession. The Ephesian denarii were often engraved in very fine style and are highly desired by collectors for that reason. Unusually for Ephesus, this specimen has spacing dots on the obverse.

Aside from the extreme rarity, I was attracted to this coin because of the portraits. On the obverse Vespasian is presented as an old middle age man while the reverse features Titus and Domitian as virile young men looking almost like teenage boys. The obverse advertises experience and a steady hand while the reverse promises an energetic and bright future. A perfect dynastic message.

Feel free to post your dynastic coins!

 

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Three amazing portraits. This is a dream coin for Flavian collectors.

 

Amazing portraits and rarity (R3), Congrats! Here's another Ephesus (not dynastic) Vespasian. The style of these portraits is definitely what drew me to this coin:
Vespasian (AD 69-79), AR denarius, Ephesus, July-December 69, die axis 6 o'clock
Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG, laureate head of Vespasian right
Rev: PACI ORB — TERR AVG, turreted and draped female bust right, no below (?)
Size: 15-18mm, 2.86g
Ref: RIC 1397 (or maybe 1407 if there is a symbol there)

 

Mine is the full length version showing two boys more slender than I think of from the Rome mint coins. As with too many of these, the small flan loses half of the reverse legend. Also my mintmark laying down in exergue is weak. The reverse portraits on the OP coin strike me as spectacular.

 

What a great coin. If it was me, I would very much look forward to opening the mail after having ordered that one.
Recently I've been busy building an archive of my collection, with photos and descriptions. One of my thoughts while doing so has been "I have too little dynastic coinage." Thank you very much indeed for reinforcing that notion.
Well, there are exceptions.

 

I see enough of a trace of it to say it is there. Small flans are the normal situation for these. I had to have the one below because of the broad flan in spite of the horrid flan cracks that come with a heavy hammer. I was also attracted to the more slender Pax on the coin compared to the somewhat 'similar to Vespasian' face on Sulla80's coin

Is there an accepted date order to the mintmarks?

 

Incredible coin @David Atherton. Simply outstanding! BTW, I have a Constanntius II I can trade ya for it

 

A wonderful addition David. Amazing addition, Congrats.

Here are a few of my Ephesian coins.

 

Super coin, David. Knocked my socks off too, congrats.

 

Here's a rough Caracalla sestertius with Caracalla and Geta standing facing one another, sacrificing over altar, veiled Concordia standing in background.




Caracalla (Augustus)
Coin: Brass Sestertius
M AVREL ANTON INVS PIVS AVG - Laureate head of right
PONTIF TR P XIII COS III - Caracalla and Geta standing facing one another, sacrificing over altar, veiled Concordia standing in background.
Exergue: SC


Mint: Rome (210 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 22.89g / 32.71mm / 180
Rarity: Very Rare
References:
RIC452b
Banti 91
Provenances:
Marc Breitsprecher
Acquisition/Sale: Ancient Imports Internet $0.00 8/17
Notes: Jun 13, 18 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection

 

I agree there is a trace of a mint mark below Tyche.

And yes, the series is ordered by the COS dates on the obverse. The first two issues are the only ones with the shortened obverse legend lacking a date.

 

Not my area of expertise, but there does seem to be an order to the mint marks as well - maybe?

 

That chart gives the general idea. A few additions: COS II shares both the Φ and BY mintmarks. COS III has both a BY mint mark and no mint mark issue as well.

 

Here is a different dynastic issue. I know the condition is not very good but it is a rare issue so I grabbed it when I saw it.

Vespasian AR Denarius 71 CE
18 mm 3.25 g
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG TR P; laureate head of Vespasian r
Rev: TITVS ET DOMITIAN CAESARES PRIN IVEN; Titus and Domitian seated left on curule chairs, each holding a branch
RIC 1124 (R) RSC 544 BMC p 80 Note
Purchased from Germania Inferior Numismatics on Vcoins June 14, 2019

 

Here's one of mine



IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG
Laureate head right

TITVS ET DOMITIAN CAES PRIN IV
Titus and Domitian seated left on curule chair, each holding a branch.

Rome 69-70 AD

2.83g

RIC 6 (R); BMCRE pg. 8 note; RSC 541.

Rare

Ex-Barry Murphy

 

WOW! Amazing, great coin - I absolutely love it!
No "fly specking" here.. this a wonderful coin and type... certainly a credit to any collection. Thank you for posting!
Great piece of history!

 

Fantastic coin David!
I think that Titus and Domitian look better on this Ephesian denarius than on the dynastic type of Rome.

 

I agree. The style of the Ephesian series is superior to that of Rome. For comparison, here is my Rome version of the type.


Vespasian
AR Denarius, 3.04g
Rome Mint, January - June 70 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: CAESAR AVG F COS CAESAR AVG F PR; Bare heads of Titus on l. and Domitian on r., facing one another
RIC 16 (R). BMC 2. RSC 5. BNC 1.
Acquired from Ephesus Numismatics, November 2005.

 

One of the finest dynastic issues i've ever seen!

Not as fine as Ephesus but the Tarraco mint put out a very appealing issue as well.

Vespasian AR Denarius, Tarraco mint, 70 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Vespasian, Laureate right.
Rev: CEASAR AVG F COS CAESAR AVG F PR; Confronting heads of Titus right, and Domitian left.
- RIC 1302 (R). BMC 351A. RSC 5. From the Gordon S. Parry Collection; Ex Lanz Auction 68 (6 June 1994) lot 360, sold for 420 DM; CNG E-auction 196 lot 263.

 

Wow @Nemo that is a lovely example