A year ago this month I was elated to have acquired one of my 'dream coins' - a well provenanced Vespasian dynastic sestertius from Rome. Unfortunately, despite the 100 year old provenance, it turned out to be a 19th Century cast. Happily, a couple of weeks later I acquired an example struck at Lugdunum. 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. But I still continued to pine away for the Rome mint version of this special type ... until now. Finally, I have redeemed myself and added the Rome mint variant! Vespasian Æ Sestertius, 27.31g Rome mint, 71 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: CAES AVG F DES IMP AVG F COS DES IT; S C in field; Titus and Domitian stg. l. and r., with spears; Titus (to r.) also with parazonium, Domitian with roll RIC 143 (R). BMC 528. BNC 473. Acquired from NumisCorner, June 2020. An iconic dynastic sestertius struck during Vespasian's great bronze issue of 71. The type was struck both at Rome and Lyon (ancient Lugdunum) and announced Vespasian's intention to found a dynasty. Mattingly in BMCRE II calls it a 'famous' type placing the figures on the reverse as Titus on the left and Domitian on the right. While that is the conventional numismatic placement for the two Caesares, here we see the figure on the right holding a parazonium an attribute of an imperator, which of the two could only be Titus. Conversely, the figure on the left is holding something smaller (a book scroll?) that does not appear to be a parazonium. The reverse legend corresponds for this placement of the figures with the first half of the legend CAES AVG F DES for Domitian on the left, the second half IMP AVG F COS DES II for Titus on the right. The legend has caused confusion over the years with some numismatists creating the phantom title Designatus Imperator for Titus. The title COS is implied for Domitian after DES in the legend as a kind of numismatic shorthand. Gunnar Seelentag attempted to clear up the matter up in his Numismatic Chronicle, Vol 167 (2007) article 'Titus and the Supposed Title Designatus Imperator', but doubts remain. Curtis Clay has proposed that the traditional view of Titus on the left and Domitian on the right is correct, pointing out that both are holding a parazonium, theorising Titus's is hidden behind his body with only the handle showing. His arguments in full can be read here: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=44488.0 The reverse type itself is fairly rare with only a handful of specimens coming to market each decade. Flavian dynastic types are far more common in silver. The acquisition of this piece was the completion of an important personal goal and a numismatic redemption. Do you have a similar redemption coin?
Great coin David. Two of them acutally, despited the different mint And too bad that no 1 proved to be a cast... I'm not quite sure if this fits your definition of a redemption coin, but after finding out that the previous one was a fake, I was determined to add a new one. Which I could: A coin that 'continued to taunt me' was a type I found at a fair but was unable to purchase at that specific time. I regretted it nevertheless. Lucky enough, half a year later the same seller with the same coin was at another fair. I was able to purchase the coin then:
Great coins and I just posted a "redemption coin" at the link below: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/handsome-diadumenian-denarius.362583/ It's sometimes nicer feeling getting that "redemption" than a wishlist coin.
..kool David...i have these two i got because i lost on a provincial Nero with Apollo playing the lyre on reverse... Nero As SPQR shield reverse/ Antiochus ll Apollo/lyre
Well, I don't know if you would call this a redemption coin but it is a coin I sold and then bought again. This is from an old thread that was entitled "If It's Gone Is It Really Gone?",or something like that. I got a second chance at acquiring a coin that I regretted selling. Titus (Augustus) Coin: Brass Sestertius DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESP - Radiate Vespasian seated left holding branch and scepter. IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII Around large S C - Legend surrounding large S C Exergue: Mint: Rome (80 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 24.10g / 35mm / 12h Rarity: Rare References: RIC II 145 Sear 2573 Cohen 207 Provenances: Father Wilbur B. Dexter Collection CNG Acquisition/Sale: fvrivs.rvfvs eBay CNG Electronic/137 #216 $0.00 11/18 Notes: Jan 5, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
Your new sestertius is just wonderful, David! Great eye appeal and of course the history behind the type makes it a must-have for Flavian fanatics or really any collector of ancient Roman coins .
Returning to this thread with a redemption coin. I purchased a deceptive fake of this type a few years ago and achieved redemption this year with this genuine one - only 18 obverse dies in Crawford (only 1 with this control letter). These coins were struck as C. Annius was sent to Spain by Sulla: "And not long afterwards Caius Annius was sent out by Sulla, and seeing that Julius could not be assailed, he knew not what to do, and sat idly down at the base of the mountains." - Plutarch, Life of Sertorius 7.2 C. Annius T. f. T. n. and L. Fabius Hispaniensis, AR denarius, North Italy or Spain, 82-81 BC Obv: C•ANNI•T•F•T•N•PRO•COS•EX•S•C, female head right, wearing diadem, control letter P below with dot to right Rev: Victory in quadriga right, holding reins and palm branch, Q above, L•FABI•L•F•HISP in exergue Ref: Crawford 366/2a (no scales on obverse, P control letter with dot to right) This second one of this type shows a very different style, yet still C. Annius: C. Annius T.f. T.n and L. Fabius L.f. Hispaniensis, Spain 82-81 BC Obv: [C·ANNIVS·T·F·T·N]·PRO ·COS·EX·S·C·, diademed and draped female bust right Rev: Victory in slow quadriga right, holding palm-branch and reins; above horses, Q and below, S. In exergue, [L·]FABI L F HISP Ref: Crawford 366/3c - only 4 dies known (one with S for control mark)
Here's a "second chances" coin. I was the underbidder in CNG's auction 100 (2015). The coin became available again a year later in a HJB BBS and the buy now price was less than I'd bid in 2015. I'd bid higher than planned in 2015 so the BBS price was palatable. Julia Domna AR denarius, 19.5mm, 3.17 gm, 6h. Rome mint Struck under Septimius Severus, circa AD 207-211 Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA; draped bust right Rev: Fecunditas or Tellus (Earth) reclining left under tree, resting arm on basket of fruit and placing hand on celestial orb; standing before her are four children representing the Four Seasons Ref: RIC IV 549 (Septimius Severus); RSC 35 ex R.H. Collection
Again, congrats, @David Atherton My redemption focuses on the PERSONAL. I chased a Republican Denarius due to my blindly honoring a good friend and Historic Mentor from my collegiate days, aeons before. His first name was Rufus, and I found a coin that I thought befitting, as he deeply enjoyed Republican Rome history. It turned out to be fake, and I was too blind to see how glaringly it was fake when I bought it. In-hand I was frustrated, and even was called out by @Mat so quickly after I posted it. (I truly appreciated that call-out, albeit so frustrating to me.) It RE-Taught me a sore lesson to stop, think, research, and ensure that I KNOW what I am acquiring. I eventually found a Denarius that more resembled the legacy of Professor J. Rufus Fears': FAKE MODERN Cast P Servilius M F Rufus RVLLI 100 BC RR Servius Rullus MF Rufus 100 BCE AR Den Minerva Victory Biga Sear 207 Craw 328-1 Left