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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 3464172, member: 82616&quot;]My latest arrival very likely had a colourful history because of its lowly status. These are the kind of coins that have an unknowable but rich history.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]921314[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Vespasian</b></p><p>Æ Quadrans, 2.31g</p><p>Rome Mint, 77-78 AD</p><p>RIC 1015 (R). BMC 740A.</p><p>Obv: IMP VESPASIAN AVG; Rudder on globe</p><p>Rev: P M TR P P P COS VIII; S C in field; Caduceus, winged</p><p>Acquired from Numismatica Prada, April 2019.</p><p><br /></p><p>The quadrans in the early imperial period typically lacked an imperial portrait. Possibly the denomination was deemed so lowly by mint officials that a portrait was considered improper. They were struck haphazardly and functioned primarily as an urban low value coinage in Rome and central Italy. The quadrans was the typical fee for entry into the baths, a urinal, or for a tryst in a cheap brothel. Being of rather low value quadrantes were not typically hoarded and thus are relatively scarce today. The rudder over globe suggests Vespasian&#039;s continued steady hand guiding the empire. This example is nicely centred and well preserved for the type.</p><p><br /></p><p>Show off your quadrantes![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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