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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 7755980, member: 82616&quot;]I had a devil of a time acquiring an example of this &#039;common&#039; type from Vespasian&#039;s regnal year 1 at Alexandria. Perhaps not as prevalent in trade as once thought? Like most Alexandrian billon tetradrachms it comes with a bit of wear.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1328782[/ATTACH] <b>Vespasian</b></p><p>AR Tetradrachm, 12.77g</p><p>Alexandria mint, 69 AD</p><p>Obv: AYT TIT ΦΛAYI OYEΣΠAΣIAN KAIΣ ; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r., date LA before neck</p><p>Rev: No Legend; Nike flying l., with wreath and palm</p><p>RPC 2402 (15 spec.). Emmett 205.1. Dattari-savio 359.</p><p>Ex Den of Antiquity, ebay, 24 June 2021.</p><p><br /></p><p>The first coins struck for Vespasian anywhere in the empire are those dated &quot;Year 1&quot; (LA) from Alexandria Egypt. The two legions stationed there under the Prefect Tiberius Julius Alexander were the first to declare him emperor. According to Tacitus - &quot;The first move to convey imperial status to Vespasian took place at Alexandria. This was due to the eagerness of Tiberius Alexander, who caused his legions to swear allegiance to the new emperor on 1 July&quot; (Hist 2.79). The year 1 coins were struck between 1 July and 28 August. The obverse legend of these first coins lack the title Augustus (sebastos). However, those dated Year 2 (29 August 69 - 28 August 70) include the title, which is strong evidence that Vespasian did not immediately adopt it during the first two months of his reign. Vespasian did not arrive in Alexandria until December, so the Alexandrian die engravers probably had no idea of the new emperor&#039;s appearance. Understandably, these early portraits have more than a passing similarity to those of Vitellius. This Nike reverse is also a Vitellian carry-over type. It is interesting to note this tetradrachm was struck nearly 6 months before the senate in Rome recognised Vespasian as emperor and the first imperial coins in his name were struck there.</p><p><br /></p><p>Show off your Nike/Victory coins![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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