My latest addition is another misattributed rarity! I've been on a roll lately picking these out....more to come! Vespasian Æ As, 10.66g Rome mint, 79 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN COS VIIII; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l. Rev: S C in field; Spes stg. l., with flower RIC 1093 (R). BMC -. BNC -. Acquired from Den of Antiquity, April 2022. Vespasian's last bronze issue at Rome is dated COS VIIII and was struck sometime between 1 January and 24 June 79. Bronzes from this issue were sparingly struck and are extremely rare today, possibly because they were coined in the weeks just prior to Vespasian's death on 24 June. This As from that last issue is missing from both the BM and Paris collections and is a double die match with the RIC plate coin from Oxford. Struck in fine style featuring the classic 'straining portrait'. The coin was misattributed by the seller as COS VIII, a common variant of this Spes type. Please post your 'last' coins!
Nice find, @David Atherton! This rare Judaea Capta denarius of Vespasian was issued in the same timeframe. Hendin estimates that there are fewer than 25 known. This variant of the type with a left-facing portrait is one in a small fraction of that number. Vespasian, 69-79 AD. AR Denarius (17.2 mm, 2.95 gm). “Judaea Capta” commemorative. Rome mint. Struck between January and June 24, 79 AD. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head left. / TR POT X COS VIIII, Victory advancing left, placing shield on trophy at the base of which sits a Jewish captive left.
Great coin with good detail David. One of the first coins when I started collecting. Vespasian Denarius 79 AD, 2.6gm, Sear 2308.
I wonder how he came up with that number? At any rate, here's mine. Vespasian AR Denarius, 2.86g Rome mint, 79 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l. Rev: TR POT X COS VIIII; Victory stg. l., placing shield on trophy; below, captive std. l. RIC 1069 (R). BMC 248. RSC 553. BNC 216. Hendin 1485a
