I feel very fortunate to have won this one in the NOMOS auction that finished this past weekend. Some of the prices were insane. For example, there was a Domitian RIC 9 up for auction. It is a group 2 PONT denarius and is very rare. I thought that 500 CHF would take it home. It went for an astonishing 1300 CHF plus fees. That is way too much for that coin imho. As to my coin it has many things going for it. It is a very rare Divus Vespasian issued under Titus. The obverse legend DIVVS VESPASIANVS [AVGVSTVS] is only known for this one coin type. It does not occur on any other type for Titus or Vespasian. RIC cites the British museum example and one from Paris. I know of one other and that is in the collection of our own @David Atherton. I hope he will post his here. The tensa on the reverse is right facing rather than left facing. The left facing tensa issue is a very common coin. I absolutely love the portrait of Vespasian as it expresses a great deal of character. David Hendin includes this type in his guide to biblical coins where it is classified as a victory of Judea type. If you have been watching the auctions lately you may have noticed that the Judea Capta types are occurring very frequently. There are usually a few in any big name auction, but I have a feeling that these are being sold off because the market is hot. Try finding a Judea capta for Vespasian or Titus (even the common ones) at a reasonable price. These coins have always been popular but a number of the rare ones have come to market in recent weeks which makes me think that some people may be cashing in. I think it is also possible that there are more newcomers to the hobby and that they are collecting the popular types. There is another reason that this coin is special and that is the provenance. It is an ex @zumbly coin! In a very classy move he contacted me because he noticed that I won this coin. He told me he was glad it went to someone interested in these coins. Thanks Zumbly, this coin will have a special place in my collection. Please post your coins of Vespasian or Titus; or Judea Capta coins. You could also post your wins from Nomos. Thanks for reading this post. Divus Vespasian, AR Denarius. Rome, under Titus, 80-81. (17.5 mm, 3.24 g, 4 h), Obv: Laureate head of Divus Vespasian to right; DIVVS VESPASIANVS [AVGVSTVS] Rev: Slow quadriga to right, with car in form of small temple; EX S C RIC 362 (R2); BMC 117; RSC 147; Hendin 1585a Ex: Nomos Obolos Auction 16 Lot 1127 Sunday October 11, 2020
Agreed on both counts! DIVVS VESPASIANVS? My repost of this oft-posted coin was well-nigh inevitable, now, wasn't it? (What can I say, I have a tiny ancients collection.)
Not a Judaean victory type, however, but a tensa, as RIC states, that is a wagon in the circus parade for bringing symbols of the gods to the circus before races were held there. According to a notation in my RIC, this rare variant of Divus Vespasian's obv. legend is now also known with the commoner tensa left rev. type: Lanz, eBay, 22 May 2013, weight 2.8g.
Very nice Andrew, as you know I was hoping you'd get this one! Congrats. I have the much more common type... DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS Laureate head of Divus Vespasian to right. EX S C Empty quadriga advancing left, ornamented with a miniature quadriga flanked by Victories at the top and two standing figures on the side. Rome, 80-1 AD 3.24g RIC II 361 (C),(Titus); BMCRE 119 (Titus); RSC 146 Ex-ANE
This is a very nice reverse on your new buy. Congratulations! Just a question: i see many rare flavians coins posted here lately. Why is that ? Or all flavian coins rare ???
Because there is a small group of us who have most of the common ones and are actively seeking out the rare Flavians
My only Divus Vespasian coin, issued under Titus. I think it's the same type as the one that @lordmarcovan posted. Reference Nos. RSC II Vespasian 497 (ill.), RIC II-1 Titus 357 (2007), old RIC II Titus 63 (1926), Sear RCV I Titus 2569 (ill.), BMCRE Titus 129.
You talked me into it. And I agree with Curtis, definitely not a Judaea Capta type! Nice example BTW!
Quite right Curtis. It is not a Judea Capta type and I never said it was. I claimed that Hendin categorized it as i stated above-as a Victory over Judea type. There are other examples in Hendin where I do not agree with his decisions as to what is and what is not a Judea Capta type. Many people would read Hendin and purchase coins based on this classification. One problem is that sellers are trying to sell coins and some will stretch the truth a little when it comes to what constitutes a Judea Capta type. There is a lot of hype over actual and supposed Judea Capta types on the market. I reread my original post and it certainly was possible to arrive at the conclusion that you did though that was definitely not my intention. There was a lack of clarity on my part. Thanks for your comments.
@David Atherton as you might see from my response to Curtis I never meant to imply that my coin was a Judea Capta type. However, it is certainly possible to arrive at that conclusion from my original post. Thanks for the comments.
Congrats again! I consigned this to Nomos along with some other coins back in February after a pricey purchase had made me feel the need to rationalize my collection. It was a coin I really liked, but I have no regrets now selling it knowing that it's going to a good home where it'll be appreciated more than it ever was when it was with me.
How great to win a coveted coin and then learn it had been in a friend's collection! Nice bonus. I agree prices were high. Since I almost never bid aggressively I won almost nothing. But not quite nothing - I was very happy to win this nice first-year Heraclius with a hilarious Hagar the Horrible portrait:
