A rare issue of Judaea Capta asses were struck during Vespasian's great bronze issue of 71. Recently, I was lucky enough to acquire one. Vespasian Æ As, 8.65g Rome mint, 71 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: IVDEA CAPTA; S C in exergue; Trophy; to r., Judaea std. r., hands bound behind back RIC 308 (R). BMC 608/791. BNC -. Hendin 1555. Acquired from Vaughn Coins, June 2020. Ex Ira Ettinger Collection. This As is patterned off the two famous Judaea Capta denarius types struck the previous year - the trophy and palm tree designs - combining elements from both. On the As Judaea sits with her hands bound behind her back in front of a trophy, on the denarius trophy version her hands are free and she is mourning - only the variant with palm tree shows Judaea bound. IVDEA CAPTA is spelled out on the As, the denarii place IVDAEA in exergue (note the different spelling between the two denominations). Also, the trophy denarii are quite common, the Asses are very rare. H. Mattingly erroneously attributed some of the asses to Tarraco in BMCRE II (BMC 791), all are actually Rome mint products. Missing from the Paris collection. Here is the denarius trophy version. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.35g Rome Mint, 69-70 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: IVDAEA in exergue; Judaea std. r., head resting on hand, to r. of trophy RIC 2 (C2). BMC 35. RSC 226. BNC 23. Hendin 1479. Acquired from Glenn W. Woods, October 2003. And the palm tree variant. Vespasian AR Denarius, 2.71g Rome Mint, 69-70 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: IVDAEA in exergue; Judaea std. r., hands bound behind back, to r. of palm tree RIC 4 (R). BMC 43. RSC 229. BNC -. Hendin 1480. Acquired from Zuzim Judaea, May 2012. The Jewish War was an important event for the fledgling Flavian dynasty - in essence it gave them the legitimacy to rule. The ensuing propaganda onslaught after the 'Gotterdammerung' fall of Jerusalem is awe inspiring. The slight of hand the Flavian regime pulled off which transformed defeated rebel provincials into a foreign menace is truly amazing. The coins were a major part of the regime's propaganda commemorating Vespasian's defeat of the Jews and saving the empire. Their efforts paid off, for even today the 'Judaea Capta' types are one of the most iconic and recognised reverses in the whole of Roman coinage. The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Under the Command of Titus, A.D. 70, by David Roberts (1796-1864). Oil on canvas.
Nice coin! I took your tip from an earlier thread and bought Josephus' "The Jewish War" translated by Martin Hammond. It really is a fantastic translation , and very easy to read. Thanks.
Easily it's the best edition of the work currently available in English. The copious footnotes by Martin Goodman makes it a pleasure to read.
