Grail coin acquired!

Now this is a hard coin to find on the market. I have seen one other sell in the last 4-5 years. This reverse also exists for Vespasian and is also rare, but the Titus is rarer than the Vespasian counterpart.

This coin is part of the agrarian reverse series of the denarii struck under Vespasian. I would love to find the Vespasian next but that might take me a couple of years.

These 2 coins are the only instances of this reverse on Flavian denarii. Please post your examples of rare reverse types or goats.


Titus, as Caesar (AD 79-81). AR denarius. Rome. 77-78 CE
(19mm, 3.09 gm, 7h).
Obv: laureate head of Titus right ;T CAESAR VESPASIANVS
Rev: Goatherder seated left on rocks, milking goat over vessel; IMP XIII,
RIC 985 (Vespasian).
Ex: Heritage Auctions 2021 January 20-21 Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Weekly Online Auction #232103 / Lot #63167

 

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Congratz Orfew! That's an awesome add and one I have been looking for and very much would like to add to my own collection. I have never seen any though as you say it's a rare one but it's indeed an interesting and wonderful reverse.

 

Awesome acquisition! The 'archaic' reverse type is unique to the Flavian period and probably one of the more mysterious and fascinating ones struck for the denarius. I love the pastoral scene it evokes.

Here are mine.

Vespasian
AR Denarius, 3.19g
Rome mint, 77-78 AD
Obv: CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: IMP XIX in exergue; Goatherd std. l., milking goat l.
RIC 977 (R). BMC 220. RSC 220. BNC 193.
Acquired from Ancient Delights, August 2012.



Titus as Caesar [Vespasian]
AR Denarius, 3.53g
Rome Mint, 77-78 AD
Obv: T CAESAR VESPASIANVS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IMP XIII in exergue; Goatherd std. l., milking goat l.
RIC 985 (R). BMC 230. RSC 103. BNC 204.
Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection.

 

Congrats on the acquisition! That's such a neat reverse. It also makes me so glad I'm not a goat!

 

What an interesting reverse type, @Orfew! Reminds me of ...

 

Great Goat, @Orfew ! Would enjoy having that in my collection.

And, cool beans, too, @David Atherton !

All those goats are great!


Oh, and uh, @zumbly ... WHAAuuT? LOL

 

Nice pick up... the reverse scene is very pleasing.

 

Brockage? Very cool!

 

That's a cool reverse. Great addition & Congrats.

 

I wonder how the reverse of this coin is attributed: Shepherd side-saddle facing waving "Hi"?

I like the OP's coin and the others, as well.
Thank you for posting them.

 

It is the infant Jupiter on the back of the goat Amalthea, who supposedly nursed Jupiter for a time. It is an antoninianus of Valerian II Caesar.

 

Congratulations @Orfew! I wondered what the spikes are on the back of the herder, also shown on the coins of @David Atherton ; is it part of his furr-clothing or something like that?

 

I believe it is meant to represent the hair or wool of the cloak. Thanks for the kind words.

 

Thanks so much for the laugh! Still watch that movie every year around Christmas.

 

Thanks very much @David Atherton for posting your examples.

 

I suppose just as today overalls and boots symbolises rural simplicity, in ancient Rome a rough woollen coat symbolised rustic wholesomeness. It must've been a well known trope.

 

Oops, well, I just ruined the scene...


RR AR Denarius 3.88g L Pomponius Molo 97 BCE Rome Apollo Numa Pompilius stdng Lituus alter sacrificing goat Cr 334-1 Syd 607

 

Wow. Beautiful examples. I'd love to own one of these goats, but not a real one.

The following is not an attempt to hijack your thread, @Orfew. Just a goat story that I encourage you/readers to ignore if you are not interested in this funny story during this trying pandemic time.

Years ago we bought a lake cabin in northern Minnesota. I was shocked to find my neighbor. Ralph, was a man I'd known in my youth. When I walked up to greet him, I noticed he had a sheep and a goat in a fenced area. I asked him if he was a hobby farmer. He told me how he got them...

He was teaching at a vo-tech school. Each spring a raffle was held; this time the prize was a weed-eater and a lawn mower. Unbeknownst to Ralph, the entire student body and staff put only his name in the drum. When they announced the winner of the lawn mower, Ralph's name was announced, he came up to the stage, and they brought out the sheep.

After the laughter died down, and Ralph had returned to his seat, the drawing for the weed-eater was held. Wonder of wonders, Ralph's name was drawn again. When he got to the stage, a goat was brought out.

Within a week or so after I admired Ralph's landscaping "equipment" he managed to get rid of the ewe. The goat, however, was a problem. Who wants a goat?

Then one day Ralph got a visit by a Department of Natural Resources officer: livestock could not be kept within 1,000 feet of the lakeshore. His "de-goating" efforts were really accelerated at pain of a citation.

Steve

 

Great coin @Orfew, i'm glad i didn't bid against you on it!