A Required Coin

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by David Atherton, Sep 12, 2020.

  1. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Vespasian struck a vast bronze coinage in 71. It pretty much dominates his catalogue and dwarfs all his other issues. So, it's pretty significant when you can say a certain coin type is the commonest one struck for that large issue - such as my latest addition. As a Flavian collector I would feel sheepish not having one.

    Yes, it's worn, but I like the avuncular portrait.

    V286-.jpg
    Vespasian
    Æ As, 9.69g
    Rome mint, 71 AD
    Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
    Rev: AEQVITAS AVGVSTI; S C in exergue; Aequitas stg. l., with scales and rod
    RIC 286 (C2). BMC 601. BNC 575.
    Acquired from CGB.fr, September 2020.

    This Aequitas type struck during Vespasian's great bronze issue of 71 proclaims the honest administration of public finances and that lapsed standards would be restored. Aequitas holding her scales and measuring rod was probably based on a cult image of the deity. She first shows up as an imperial virtue on the coinage under Galba, a virtue that Vespasian was eager to emulate. The type comes in two variants - one with S C in exergue as seen here, and the slightly less common S C low in field. Aequitas is easily the commonest type struck on the As for this issue.

    And here is the less 'common' variant.

    normal_V287sm.jpg Vespasian
    Æ As, 9.19g
    Rome mint, 71 AD
    Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
    Rev: AEQVITAS AVGVSTI; S C low in field; Aequitas stg. l., with scales and rod
    RIC 287 (C). BMC 600. BNC 576.
    Acquired from eBay, October 2019.

    Do you have a coin that is de rigueur?
     
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  3. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    This one came in a lot:

    Vespa Aequitas.jpg
     
  4. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Excellent David. Here is one of my favourite portraits of Vespasian.

    Vespasian RIC 1399 new.jpg
     
  5. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I sold mine to a dealer who liked it better than I did. I was not fond of the surfaces; he liked unworn coins more than I did. I have never replaced it with a smooth VF like I intended. Last year, he still had it and was asking too much all things considered.
    rb1290xx1851.jpg
     
  6. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

  7. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Actually, I quite like it. The rarer Lugdunum variant. Nice.
     
  8. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Great bronzes, @David Atherton ! I had not realized the huge mintage of CE 71.

    Not sure when this was minted... it is the only AE of his that I have, and got it because I really like it.

    [​IMG]
    RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AE Dupondius Felicitas stdg caduceus cornucopia
     
  9. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    You asked for the common among the common. The silver coinage of Julia Domna is far more common than any of the AV or AE issues. Among her denarii, coins with a PIETAS PVBLICA reverse type were the most common type to appear among the 5525 coins of the various hoards examined in Clare Rowan's "The Public Image of the Severan Women." Papers of the British School at Rome, Vol. 79 (2011), pp. 241-273. You may read more about this reverse type in my thread from 26 January, 2019.

    Domna AR reverse types -- Clare Rowan.JPG

    So, here's one of the most common of the common Julia Domna coins:

    [​IMG] Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
    Roman AR denarius, 3.35 g, 19.5 mm, 7h.
    Rome, AD 196-211.
    Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: PIETAS PVBLICA, Pietas, veiled and draped, standing left, both hands raised in prayer; at her feet, garlanded and lighted altar.
    Refs: RIC 574; BMCRE 69ff.; Cohen 156; RCV 6601; CRE 380; ERIC II 122.
     
  10. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    I do love the coin - an interesting and pleasing portrait.
    I also enjoyed your use of the word "avuncular".. I have not heard the term in many a moon - but I do not think it applies to your coin.

    Here is a Vespasian - rough.. but the size and weight add to the pleasure of ownership.

    upload_2020-9-12_23-33-50.png
    32mm, 22.53 grams
     
  11. Gavin Richardson

    Gavin Richardson Well-Known Member

    Well, in the spirit of the OP question about a de rigeur coin, if one is to have a single coin of Elagabalus, doesn’t it have to be him as the horned priest of Heliogabalus? Doug Smith kindly sold me this coin a year or two ago.

    0A445F67-CADA-4BD0-A3D1-0FE5F68790CB.jpeg
     
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