Appropriately for these troubled times, my latest coin has Salus on the reverse. Vespasian Æ Sestertius, 24.14g Lyon mint, 77-78 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r., globe at point of bust Rev: SALVS AVGVSTA; S C in exergue; Salus std. l. with patera and sceptre RIC 1208 (C). BMC 827. BNC 822. Acquired from eBay, April 2020. Ex Pegasi Auction 42, 12 November 2019, lot 488. Formerly in NGC holder 5872968-004, grade 'Ch F', strike 5/5, surface 3/5. In 77-78 Lugdunum (modern Lyon) after a hiatus of several years struck a decently sized issue of bronze coinage, presumably to address a shortage in the Western provinces. The types copy those common to Rome and feature distinctive 'blocky' portraits. Sestertii from the issue are quite rare today, with this Salus type perhaps being the most common. According to Mattingly in BMCRE II the Salus type seen here perhaps represents 'the salvation conferred by the imperial system'. Salus here symbolises the health and welfare of the Roman state, not the person of the emperor himself. The coin came slabbed, it is no longer. Feel free to share your Salus or Hygieia coins.
I like the green patina with the brassy highlights! Looks nice and chunky, too, @David Atherton ! A branch mint, too! Here's a Vespasian with a SALVS AVG reverse from my collection: Vespasian, AD 69-79. Roman AR denarius, 3.18 g, 18.4 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 73. Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII CEN, laureate head, right. Rev: SALVS AVG, Salus seated left, holding patera, left hand at side. Refs: RIC 58; RIC 2.1 522; BMCRE 87-89; Cohen/RSC 432; CBN 76; RCV 2307.
Very nice addition. I really like that Lugdunum style! Besides, how do you get that coin from the NGC-slab? Without damaging the coin.
SALUS: Republic: RR Man Acilius Glabrio 49 BCE Salus Valetudo snake Craw 442-1a Sear 412 Empire: RI Hadrian CE 117-138 AR Denarius Salus stdg feeding Snake Late Empire - Saturday Morning Cartoons: RI Leo I 457-474 CE AE 4 10mm Salus Emp stdg hldg Globe and Standard
Here's a somewhat worn Hadrian As. Hadrian (Augustus) Coin: Bronze As HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS - Laureate head right COS III - Salus standing right feeding snake from patera S C in fields Exergue: Mint: Rome (128 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 12.02g / 27mm / 6h References: RIC II 975 Sear 3681 Cohen 371 BMCRE 1381 Acquisition/Sale: fvrivs.rvfvs Ebay $0.00 03/19 Notes: Mar 24, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
I'm certain your Salus feels much better now that she's been liberated from her plastic prison and gets some fresh air! Roman Republic, moneyer: Mn. Acilius, AR denarius, 49 BC, Rome mint. Obv: SALVTIS; laureate head of Salus r. Rev: MN·ACILIVS; III·VIR·VALETV; Valetudo standing left, resting l. arm on column and holding snake in r. hand. Ref: RRC 442/1b. 19mm, 3.74g. Hadrian, Roman Empire, AE as, 125–128 AD, Rome mint. Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS; bust of Hadrian, laureate, r. Rev: COS III; Salus, draped, standing r., feeding snake out of patera; in fields flanking, SC. 26mm, 10.2g. Ref: RIC II Hadrian, 669c. Ex AMCC 1, lot 180 (their picture); ex Justin Lee. Aelia Flaccilla, Roman Empire, AE2, 383–388, Cyzicus mint. Obv: AEL FLACCILLA AVG; bust of Aelia Flaccilla, with elaborate headdress, draped, necklace, and mantle, r. Rev: SALVS REIPVBLICAE; empress, head r., standing facing, arms folded on breast; in exergue, SMKΓ. 22mm, 4.32g. Ref: RIC IX Cyzicus 24. Ex Holding History; ex AMCC 2, lot 521 (their picture).
I love the patina on that one @David Atherton! Here's my favorite Salvs by far. Titus, Rome mint, RIC 518.
Wow David, that is just lovely! The portrait is amazing! I do not have a coin of Vespasian with SALVS. I do however, have this one.
Easy... SEARCH in Ancients Threads: SLAB, SLABBING, Hammer, Vise, etc... many threads helping out this massive thermoplastic problem. Worse than bronze disease...
