Fantastic Flavian Favorites For 2020

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Jay GT4, Dec 19, 2020.

  1. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    How's that for alliteration? Still waiting on a few coins to arrive before the end of the year but I don't think they'd make my Best of list, at least not today.

    Here are my top coins for 2020:


    #10

    I love the portrait and patina of this one. Doesn't hurt that it was misattributed:

    https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-162892


    Domitian_RIC_315.jpg

    CAES DIVI AVG VESP F DOMITIAN COS VII
    Laureate head left

    SC
    Minerva standing left with thunderbold and spear, shield at her side

    Rome 80-81 AD

    9.63g

    RIC 315 (R2)
    (improperly attibuted as RIC 346)


    #9

    A very rare type for Vespasian with bare head. Missing from many collections, this one was again misattributed.

    https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-163731
    Vespasian_2.jpg

    IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG
    Bare head left

    PON MAX TR P COS VII
    Pax seated left with branch

    Rome 76 AD

    3.12g

    RIC 853 (R2)

    A very rare issue with bare head rather than the usual laureate.

    #8

    A very rare coin by Agrippa II for Titus.

    https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-166046

    Titus_1.jpg
    AVTOK TITOC KAICAP CЄBAC
    Laureate head of Titus right

    Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm; ЄT-KϚ BA (date) across upper fields; AΓ-PIΠ across lower fields.

    Caesarea Panias mint. Struck in regnal year 26 (AD 74/5).

    11.25g

    Meshorer 160b very rare. 3 examples on acsearch.
    Same dies as CNG 91, lot 679.

    #7
    One that hits two of my collecting interests...Mark Antony and the Flavians. From the Andrew Short collection

    https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-166458

    Titus_RIC950.jpg

    T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS
    Laureate head of Titus right.

    COS VI
    Prow of galley right, sides ornameted with intricate cross-hatch and maeander patterns; above, star with sixteen rays.

    Rome, 77-78 CE

    3.25g

    RIC 950 (R);

    Reverse copied from a Mark Antony denarius

    Ex: Incitatus Coins; Ex-Andrew Short Collection

    #6
    Another rarity that was misattributed
    https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-166480

    DomitianRIC02.jpg

    IMP CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG
    Laureate head right

    TR P COS VII
    Dolphin coiled around anchor

    Rome, September 13-December 31 81 CE

    3.38g

    RIC 2 (R)

    Ex-Gatewest coins

    #5

    Listed as common, this one is actually quite scarce and hard to come by in trade. None for sale anywhere when I was looking.
    https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-166596

    Vesp777.jpg


    IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG
    Laureate head right

    PON MAX TR P COS VI
    Victory standing left on prow, with wreath and palm

    Rome 75 CE

    2.97g

    RIC 777 (C2)

    Ex-Coin Cabinet


    #4

    An early portrait for Vespasian
    https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-162162

    RIC0023.jpg
    IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG
    Laureate head right

    COS ITER TR POT
    Mars advancing right with spear and Aquila

    Rome, January- June 70 AD

    RIC 23 (C)

    3.36g

    Ex-Gert Boersema; Ex-Col. Franz Pouwel, Netherlands


    #3
    Another rarity for Vespasian copied from an earlier issue by Augustus
    https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-166595

    VespRIC681.jpg
    IMP CAESAR VESP AVG
    Laureate head right

    COS V
    Laurel trees upright

    Rome 74 CE
    3.03g

    RIC 681 (R)

    Antiquarian type copying the denarius of Octavian

    #2
    Nothing needs to be said about the historical importance of these types, common though they are:
    https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-167044

    Vespasian_RIC_159.jpg


    IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM TR P P P COS III
    Laureate head right

    IVDAEA CAPTA SC (in exergue)
    Palm tree; to left, captive standing right; to right, Judaea seated right on cuirass; both figures surrounded by arms

    Rome, 71 AD

    24.22g; 36mm

    RIC 159 (C3)


    #1
    This one made it to number 1 because I considered the previous owner a friend. He was often misunderstood online and some didn't believe he owned the incredible coins he continually posted. I got his sense of humor and had the pleasure of helping him edit some of his photos. It was a wonderful collection and I'm glad to own one coin from the "Benito" collection:
    https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-166452

    Benito_0.jpg

    CAES AVG F DOMIT COS II
    Laureate head of Domitian right

    No legend
    Domitian on horseback prancing left, right hand raised, holding human-headed (helmet) sceptre in left

    Rome 73 AD

    3.40g

    RIC 680 (C); Sear 2627

    Ex-CNG eAuction 478 lot 395; Ex-Benito collection

    The reverse depicts Domitian participating in the Judaea Capta triumph of 71 A.D. He is, as Josephus described him, riding alongside in magnificent apparel and mounted on a horse that was itself a site worth seeing.


    In actuality there is no real order to these coins. In fact I left several off the list. It's just the way I view them today. Tomorrow it could be a completely different line up of Fantastic Flavian favorites from 2020.
     
    Curtisimo, eparch, TheRed and 32 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Wonderful coins. I love #10 & #1 best.
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  4. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    I definitely go for the serpentine Dolphin! Didn't the Romans know that dolphins were not, in fact, related to snakes..
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  5. Alegandron

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

    Jay GT4 likes this.
  6. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    WOW Jay, you had an excellent year. My fave is the RIC 853 with the bare head portrait. There are only 2 types of denarii that use the bare headed portrait of Vespasian; RIC 773 and RIC 853. These are really rare.

    I love them all!
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  7. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    Great coins! Id love to own a Vespasian iudaea capta sestertius one day! Due to eye appeal, your no. 1 is a beauty and my favorite.
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  8. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..w0w...very nice in that dept...i know a couple of Vespeeps(fanatics) who'll be frothing...:)
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  9. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Thanks everyone for your kind words.

    This one didn't make the list and came 2 days before the one above...

    VespRIC 167.jpg

    IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM TR P P P COS III
    Laureate head right

    IVDAEA CAPTA SC in exergue
    Palm tree; to left Vespasian standing right with spear and parazonium, foot on helmet; to right Judaea seated right

    Rome, 71 AD

    22.69g; 32mm

    RIC 167 (C3)

    Ex-Ritter (mis-attributed as RIC 159; two captives)

    A decent example of a common but sought after type. Nice big coin with major devices visible. Better in hand.
     
    BenSi, Orfew, David Atherton and 4 others like this.
  10. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    Great coins, Jay!

    Sometimes I wish I were a Flavian collector. I need at least one jaw-dripping Sestertius. Maybe 2021 will be the year!
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  11. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    No wonder I can't find Flavian coins, expecially Titus. Too many Flavian collectors!

    I like 'em all and can't figure which to pick to be better than the others.
     
    Nicholas Molinari and Jay GT4 like this.
  12. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Flavian Fantastics that's what I would call them Jay, two that stand out are your numbers 10 & 1, 10 for it's great portrait and one for being a stunning Denarius both have great eye appeal. congrats on what looks like a great year of collecting.
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  13. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    I like them all. My favorite is No. 1 with Domitian on horseback on the reverse -- it's amazing. Next for me is No. 5, the Vespasian with Victory standing on a prow on the reverse. There's something about Vespasian's portrait that I really love -- perhaps the combination of that face with his hair sticking up in little bristles on top.
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  14. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    A solid list Jay! A nice mix of rarities and iconic types. #9 is my favourite - fantastically rare and aesthetically pleasing.
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  15. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Thanks David, we have a nice little group of Flavian specialist.
     
    David Atherton likes this.
  16. singig

    singig Well-Known Member

    Your #1 is simply great , I also like #6 and #3. Congratulations!
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  17. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    Nice additions Jay, I really like #1 and #4.
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  18. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Very good year! I like the Vespasian with the laurel trees denarius.
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  19. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Great score all together. I like #10, #1 and #2 the most

    Q
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
  20. Spargrodan

    Spargrodan Well-Known Member

    Another fellow Flavianist great coins all but my favourite is #1
     
  21. ancientone

    ancientone Well-Known Member

    Great Flavians Jay and that Domitian on horseback is Sweet!
     
    Jay GT4 likes this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page