As a specialist I tend to look for things that other folks would think are not too important. For instance, the number of corn-ears. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.20g Rome mint, 77-78 AD RIC 980 (C). BMC 216. RSC 216. Obv: CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, right. Rev: IMP XIX across field; Modius, standing on three legs, containing six ears of corn upright and two hanging over the sides Acquired from Forvm Ancient Coins, July 2018. A rare and, to my knowledge, unique variant of the common modius type. Normally just five corn-ears are seen standing upright with two hanging over the sides, here there are six standing upright. This deviation from the stock design was perhaps an engraver's error or whim. The modius type celebrates the emperor's provision of free grain to all Roman citizens, certainly a most valuable propaganda type! Normally, Vespasian shared his reverse designs with Titus Caesar - the modius was not one of them, perhaps emphasising Vespasian's sole responsibility for the grain supply. Unusually, the type was not directly modelled from any coin designs struck in the past and was part of an agrarian series of denarius reverse types struck between 77 and 78. The portrait is a superb example of Rome mint engraving in the latter half of Vespasian's reign. So far, I have not been able to locate another specimen with six upright corn-ears. If anyone knows of another please let me know! I would be curious to see if it is a die match or not. For comparison, here is my five upright corn-ears version. I suppose you really are a specialist (crazy?) when you are counting the number of corn-ears on a coin design! Feel free to post your minutiae!
A great example of the minutiae that appeal to a specialist. I found this a few years back when I got a bit distracted with the early-ish issues of Antoninus Pius. Oddly enough it is also a Modius variant. Antoninus Pius Denarius Obv: IMP T AEL CAES HADR ANTONINVS, bare head right Rev: AVG PIVS P M TR P COS II P P, Modius with corn ears. Minted in Rome. A.D. 139 Reference:– cf. BMC 79 (4 corn ears and poppy, L. A. Lawrence). cf. RIC III 40 (corn ears and poppy). cf. RSC 103. This coin doesn't show the poppy as per the BMC/RIC examples
That's an astute observance of detail, David! I'm going to need to take another long look at my coins.
Septimius Severus used the modius to hold fruit in addition to grain. From Alexandria, this Antoninus Pius obol has detail on the modius but not much on the grain.
I don't have an example of one of these Flavian modius types, but I do have an example of minutiae. This coin is quite scarce as it is; in fact, the British Museum does not have an example of this in their collection but several examples are to be found at the Coin Project and a few at acsearchinfo. I managed to acquire one recently: Roman AR Denarius, 3.66 g, 18.2 mm, 1 h. Rome mint, AD 195. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right. Rev: VESTA, Vesta seated left, holding palladium in right hand, transverse scepter in left. Refs: RIC 582; BMCRE --; Cohen 223 var. (aureus); RCV --; Hill 187; CRE 415. Notes: Ex-Perron collection 1960; ex-A.K. collection; ex-CNG lot #614, Triton XX. Applicable to the OP's question, however, is a variety of this coin, which may be even scarcer because there are no examples to be found at acsearchinfo, Wildwinds, OCRE, or the Coin Project. This one IS in the British Museum collection, however. In fact, their example is the only other one I have been able to find online. This is a variety where Vesta does not hold a scepter: JULIA DOMNA, AD 193-217. Roman AR Denarius, 2.29 g, 16.8 mm Rome mint, issue 8, AD 195. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right. Rev: VESTA, Vesta seated left, holding palladium. Refs: RIC 582 var. (no scepter); BMCRE 93; Cohen 223 var. (no scepter); RCV --; Hill 188; CRE 415 var. (no scepter). The BMC example is a reverse die-match to my coin, as might be expected for such a variety: This is not to be confused with an earlier issue of Julia Domna, which is very common, with the obverse inscription IVLIA DO-MNA AVG: But, as you say ...
Here I go again..... Septimius Severus denarius - Eastern IMP VIII These coins should all be:- Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, Laureate head right Rev:– ARAB ADIABENIC, Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm which would be RIC IV 466 corr. where RIC has incorrectly read as IMP VII and is described as "Victory with wreath and trophy" whereas this type is "Victory with wreath and palm" (as could be done on my first coin below) BUT R of ARAB corrected over B Here the engraver forgot the palm! And here he forgot the A in ADIABENIC
Very interesting coin David Here is an example of a small difference. On the first coin there is no lituus under the triangular frame on the reverse. On the reverse of the second coin there is a lituus. I have submitted a photo and description of this type to KOINON for publication this fall. The lituus version is no currently in RIC though @David Atherton has said it will be published in the upcoming revision to RIC II part one. Both coins are rare. I knew when I spotted this coin that I had to have it.
Interesting the AP version sometimes has a poppy. There is a rare Vespasian variant with poppies too, so I am not quite finished with this type!
