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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 3988267, member: 82616&quot;]Today the postman was very generous and delivered not only an expected coin but also a book I&#039;ve very much been looking forward to reading!</p><p><br /></p><p>First, the coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1050129[/ATTACH]<b>Vespasian</b></p><p>Æ Dupondius, 12.67g</p><p>Lyon mint, 77-78 AD</p><p>Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS VIII P P; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.; globe at point of bust</p><p>Rev: FIDES PVBLICA; S C in field; Fides stg. l., with patera and cornucopiae</p><p>RIC 1210 (C3). BMC 828. BNC 825.</p><p>Acquired from, eBay, January 2020.</p><p><br /></p><p>FIDES PVBLICA, the good faith of the state, was a common personification on Vespasian&#039;s coinage. The figure on the reverse is likely based on a cult statue of the goddess whose annual sacrifice occurred on 1 October. Important documents of state and treaties were store in her temple for safe keeping. The Fides type came into common imperial use during the Flavian era and was an important part of Vespasian&#039;s numismatic propaganda. This dupondius was struck at the Lugdunum (Lyon) mint in 77-78 in a fairly large issue that presumably addressed a shortage of bronze coinage in the Western provinces. Oddly enough, dupondii in this issue are more commonly encountered with a laureate bust instead of the normally radiate one.</p><p><br /></p><p>And the book.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1050130[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><i>The Shadow of Vesuvius </i>is an ingenious dual biography of both Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. Those who enjoy Mary Beard&#039;s breezy and popular style will love Dunn&#039;s approach as well. Even though I&#039;ve only received this book less than 12 hours ago I&#039;m already several chapters in and having a blast! (no pun intended)[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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