I really am a huge fan of the Lugdunum (Lyon) mint under Vespasian. So, I was quite thrilled to have recently received this beauty featuring a fantastic high relief portrait of Vespasian engraved in the distinctive Lyonnais bronze style! This coin has been high on my want list for several months. Vespasian Æ Dupondius, 12.97g Lyon mint, 77-78 AD RIC 1215 (C3). BMC 833. Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS VIII P P; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.; globe at point of bust Rev: FORTVNAE REDVCI; S C in field; Fortuna stg. l., with rudder on globe and cornucopiae Acquired from GB Collection, January 2019. A possible shortage of bronze coinage in the Western provinces late in Vespasian's reign likely prompted the Lyon mint to temporarily reopen in 77-78 and strike a fairly substantial issue of coinage. Curiously, as seen here, the dupondii are commonly unradiated but can be told apart from the asses by their heavier weight. The reverses are standard types copied from Rome. This common Fortuna REDVCI reverse featuring her with a steady hand steering the rudder of the world was a familiar propaganda type both at Rome and Lyon that continued to commemorated the safe return of Vespasian and Titus from the East at the beginning of the reign. I'm glad I finally decided to pull the trigger on this piece after watching it for several months in the seller's store because it would've been fairly crushing to see it marked as 'sold'. Fortunately, that didn't happen. Feel free to post any coins you believe you were fortunate to have acquired.
Nice one David! I watched this one for a long time too before I finally made an offer on it and it was accepted. RIC 544 Domitian As IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XIII CENS PER PP Laureate head of Domitian right FORTVNAE AVGVSTI SC Fortuna standing left holding rudder and cornucopiae Rome 87 AD 10.9g RIC 544 (C3)
We are two sides of the same coin my friend - Judaean & Flavian. We inspire each other. That is a fantastic coin! Lots of eye appeal with that one.
