Continuing with my recent NAC wins, here is another early provincial denarius struck for Vespasian, probably in Spain. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.29g Uncertain mint, 69-71 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: S P Q R / OB C S in two lines within oak wreath RIC 1361A (R3, this coin cited in the A&C). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -. Ex NAC 125, 24 June 2021, lot 505. Privately purchased from Klassische Münzen 2008. Many mints were operating during the civil war of 68/69 in the west and it is sometimes difficult to pin down certain issues to a specific one. A small military issue was struck at an uncertain mint somewhere in the western empire - Mattingly thought perhaps Aquileia. The issue contains some stylistic affinities with the Spanish series, but more importantly, recent metal analysis by K. Butcher and M. Ponting show the silver content is almost identical to that of the Spanish coins. It is very likely these early military denarii were also struck in Spain in late 69 soon after the province went over to Vespasian. The SPQR wreath reverse type symbolises the corona civica which was awarded to Vespasian by the Senate for rescuing the Roman people from civil war and bringing about peace. It echoes a similar reverse formerly struck for Galba. Although this unique piece was recently assigned in the RIC Addenda & Corrigenda to uncertain/military mint group 3, stylistically the portrait has much more in common with the denarii of group 4 (heavy brow, upward gaze, crude style) and probably should be reassigned there. Show off your one-of-a-kinds!
very young head of Vespasian , me like. Heres the Galba SPQR OB CS you mention, the oak wreath stands for rescueing his comrades in battle:
I always love it when a reference is "this coin". Great addition David. You've been on quite the roll lately. My unique "this coin" was submitted and will be a foot note in the upcoming Addenda IMP CAES VESPAS AVG Laureate head right AVG within laurel wreath, ΘI monogram above ties. Ephesus mint. AD 69-70. 2.63g RIC 1399 unlisted variant (laurel wreath rather than oak) this coin, footnote in the upcoming RIC II addenda Ex Gorny & Mosch 152 (10 October 2006), lot 2071; Ex-Cheesman collection; Ex-CNG 433 Lot 379
Not a one of a kind but we might mention that the wreath reappeared at Rome in 73AD(?). My experience with 'one of a kinds' is that most fall into two categories: 1. Coins thought to be unique because we did not look hard enough 2. Coins that may have been unique yesterday but someone will find another tomorrow A lot of this depends on how far we go is defining what small differences are considered as significant and which are just a matter of there being more than one die in use and there is some variant spacing or difference in abbreviation. I always consider a different mint as significant. That means my Alexandria mint INVICTO IMP of Septimius Severus is still awaiting a match even though the equivalent 'Emesa' is among the common types of that mint. Alexandria: "Emesa": Below are two different denarii of Julia Domna that share the same obverse die but have different ways of writing B/R in the reverse legend. I have not seen another of either of these reverse dies with the spelling as here. Are the two coins each unique awaiting others or are they two relatively meaningless die variations on the common VENER VICTR type? (Third below is 'normal'.) It is a matter of opinion. Often that opinion is influenced by whether owns the coin in question or not. 'One of a kind' can seem to mean 'I only have one'. Below is the Alexandria mint version with the VICTR spelling. I would qualify it as one of a kind (I only have one) but there are other spellings of the reverse. I believe out own Severus Alexander has the one with VIC rather than VICTR. How many of each exist? I have no idea. I have the VICTR spelling paired with a Septimius Severus obverse and am aware of a coin using the VIC with his obverse. Ancient coins were struck from individually engraved dies, each having its own unique characteristics. Two dies were combined to make a coin but the same two dies did not always go together making it possible that we have unique combinations. To mutilate an old saying: All coins are unique; some coins are more unique than others. Draw the lines where you wish and publish your die study in a book. Then people will follow your opinion quoting your name and catalog number ......until, of course, someone publishes their book updating and correcting all your errors and omissions. Being one of a kind is hard!
Fantastic find, @David Atherton! Well done! This one is unlisted (though I'm still waiting for the relevant volume of RPC to be published) and may be unique: Severus Alexander and Julia Mamaea, AD 222-235. Roman provincial Æ pentassarion, 10.1 g, 25.7 mm, 5 h. Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, magistrate Umbrius Tereventinus, AD 226-227. Obv: ΑVΓ ΚΜ Α[VΡ CΕVΗ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟC ΚΑΙ] ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΜΑΜΑΙΑ, confronted busts. Rev: ΗΓ Ȣ [ΤΕΡΕΒΕΝΤΙΝΟV ΜΑΡ]ΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤ-ΩΝ, Dikaiosyne standing l., holding scales and cornucopiae, E (5) in field, r. Refs: AMNG --; Moushmov --; Varbanov --; BMC --; Sear --; SNG Cop --; SNG von Aulock --; Lindgren --.
Vespasian copied many reverses from Galba. Of course, his immediate predecessor also Used this reverse type as well. I think it is fairly safe to say that Vespasian was copying from Galba as he did so with other reverse types. lately, I have been scouring through RIC trying to ascertain which coins had variants not listed in RIC. For example, if there is a right facing portrait in RIC, what is the likelihood of a left facing counterpart? In many cases, the left facing portraits are scarcer. However, there are exceptions to this as well. I find it interesting to speculate as to The possible motives behind the striking of these coins. once again David, that is a fantastic coin.
