A Vespasian denarius you don't see every day

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Jay GT4, Jun 29, 2020.

  1. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    After waiting almost 2 months it has arrived.

    I'm happy to add this very rare Vespasian to my Flavian collection, and to finally be a member of the "club".

    Looks like a very common Vespasian denarius on the surface. Can anyone besides Andrew and David spot what makes this coin special?

    Vespasian.jpg

    For those that can't figure it out see the link to the coin in my Forum gallery:

    https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-163731

    If you have one, don't give it away, just post your example. Let's see how long we can keep people guessing...
     
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  3. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Now that is an excellent pickup @Jay GT4 . Congrats on finding one of these extremely elusive types.

    Vespasian ric 773.jpg
     
  4. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Wonderful that it's a bare headed portrait, but let's not forget the COS VII Pax reverse - extremely rare too!
     
  5. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Thanks guys. I guess we're the only nuts who care :)
     
  6. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    I'll join in! Bare head, portrait to the left, and COS VII. (Or is the last I part of the chair?)
    I found a similar type, on ACSEARCH, by gemini, auctioned in 2013. Perhaps - in case you don't know it yet - you might be interesting in the following note as well?
    "Three aspects make this denarius noteworthy and rare: first the bare portrait, instead of laureate as normal; second the portrait facing left rather than the normal right; and finally the date TR P VII in the reverse legend, instead of TR P VI which is normal with this Pax seated type. Apparently the type continued to be struck for a short time only in 76 AD (COS VII). The COS VII on our coin indeed looks as though it might have been altered in the die from a previous COS VI, in the same way that on a parallel Pax-seated denarus die of Titus COS IIII was definitely altered to COS V, RIC 865 note and pl. 58 (enlargements). "Extremely rare bare head, only seen on coins of 75 and 76" (Harry Sneh); underpriced by Cohen at only two francs ."

    And i'll throw in my COS VII (with the funky little head, which, according to David Atherton, was the style used henceforth :))
    14.1.png
     
    Bing, Jay GT4, Orfew and 2 others like this.
  7. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    A clarification for those who may be interested. Yes Jay's coin is very rare. It may in fact be the eighth known. When David and I last discussed this type last year he said he knew of 7 examples. Jay's coin is RIC 853 and yes it is also rare for the reverse legend. However, the type I posted while having the more common VI instead of VII is actually a rarer coin than Jay's type. My type is RIC 773. I am aware of exactly 2 examples of this denarius type with the bare head left portrait and COS VI. I own one and the other is owned by David Atherton.

    Having said that I would love to find another example of Jay's coin. It is a very interesting type indeed. Mine also happens to be the RIC reference coin as when RIC (2007) was published my coin was the only known example.

    Jay, again you have my congratulations. Well spotted and well bought.
     
    PeteB and Jay GT4 like this.
  8. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Thanks guys. It's rare for all of the reasons Limes listed above. I was holding off in case anyone wanted to try and guess. Most people don't recognize the bare head type. That's fine with me, less competition, although Andrew, David and myself seem to always be watching the same coins!

    As a bonus, my coin is a double die match to David's example.
     
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