Another Vespasian

Hi all,
Just won this from CNG. I will be very excited to receive this one as I really like the way it looks.

Once again I ask you to post your coins of Vespasian.


Vespasian. AD 69-79. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.39 g, 6h).

Rome mint. Struck AD 74.

Obv: Laureate head right IMP CAESAR VESP AUG

Rev: Vespasian seated right, holding scepter and branch. PONTIF MAXIM

RIC II 685; BMCRE pg. 27 ; RSC 386.

CNG E-auction 373, Lot 366 April 20, 2016

 

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Wonderful example!

 

Super Nice One !!!

I just won the denarius posted below and have another one pending (similar to yours but far lower grade):

Vespasian; denarius, struck 72-73 AD; Priestly implements....

 

that's a nice lookin' vespasian orfew, cool reverse also!

i'll refrain from posting my same ol' vespasian coin.

 

BTW: @Orfew ....Yours was struck the year after the siege of Masada by Silva and I imagine the 'olive branch' held by Vespasian on the reverse symbolizes the long sought peace after that bitter struggle...not to mention the civil wars that brought the Flavians to ultimate power....

But I'm sure @vespasian70 among others will elaborate a bit more about that and other aspects of your denarius.

 

I think you did really well. Nice, well centered coin IMHO.

 

Thanks to all for the kind words

 

I love everything about your new coin, Orfew! Bravo.

I know so little of Flavian coins, though - I feel I should really at least read all of RIC on the matter. Would this be described as a restitution issue? Copying the PONTIF MAXIM "tribute penny" types of Tiberius?

 

Interesting question JA I don't know
Hopefully David will be able to answer this one

 

I have few Denarii from him because I really like this guy.

his Dupondius...


Vespasian, AD 69-79
Æ Dupondius, 12.2g, 27mm, 6h; Rome mint, AD 73.
Obv.: IMP CAES VESP AVG PM TP COS IIII CENS; Radiate head left.
Rev.: Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopia, S - C
Reference: RIC II 539(b), p. 78
Ex: @John Anthony dude

 

Nice coin Orfew! JA is correct, it's an antiquarian type that copies the famous 'Tribute Penny' reverse of Tiberius - only this time it's a male figure (Vespasian).

I'm glad to see a CT member win a coin in today's CNG auction, I was clio'd! But clio may not have won what he or she thought they did. Let me explain. This was the lot I was after: https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=311165 CNG describes it as a possible 'local imitation' - which may be true, however, their reason why it may be so is way off the mark. The two 'genii' in the coin's description are really nothing more than the back of the high throne Ceres is seated upon.

Here's an example of the type I have from the same series.


Notice how high the throne's back is.

The reason I thought the CNG coin was interesting was the reverse legend error, CONCRDIA. That and the really low weight may indicate it's not official, even though the style is correct for the issue. I wasn't willing to go above $300 for a possible contemporary forgery, clio was OK with it.

 

Interesting coin David. I saw that one too, but it quickly went above what I was willing to pay for it. I was interested but not that interested.

 

I was of two minds about the coin - I thought the legend error was cool, but since I don't collect ancient forgeries the weight bothered me. Of course the weight could be due the the coin's condition (porous) because the style looks OK. If there were no lingering doubts I would've bid higher and clio would've paid more. lol

Anyway, this keeps my powder dry for an upcoming auction I really want to win.

 

BTW Orfew, your coin is much scarcer than the the same type struck the year before with the obverse legend IMP CAES VESP AVG CENS. You got it at a bargain price!

 

Thanks David. I could not believe I got it for that price. I really expected it to go for much more (especially since the condition looks really nice). I also believe it is quite a scarce coin. I found 2 examples on acsearch, 1 in the CNG archives, 3 in the Forvm galleries (including yours) and the one I won was the sole example listed on coin archives.

 

It pays to do your research. Well done!

 

Nice buy... that's the kind of coin I imagine anybody would be pleased with. I certainly would be.

While it's probably correct to say that Vespasian was copying Tiberius's 'tribute penny' type since that issue was so large and ubiquitous, I'll point out that Tiberius was himself copying Augustus, who was first to use that reverse and legend. They're quite rare and I don't have one to show.

 

Good point 'Z' and I believe someone here at CT posted an example not too long ago---I hope they notice this thread and repost it. The obvious desire to connect with Augustus seems self- evident...pronouncing order and peace, stability and prosperity etc etc.

 

In his Vespasian as Moneyer Ted Buttrey provided a handy chart showing most of the denarius reverse types struck by Vespasian and their corresponding antiquarian precursor, if any.



Click on the images to see them a bit larger.

It would seem the mint had a memory. The 'Tribute Penny' PONTIF MAXIM denarius is listed on the second chart.

I've been meaning to share it for quite a while. This thread seemed as good excuse as any.

 

Cool, I have the same type, love that mine is pretty much black.


Vespasian (69 - 79 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O:IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII, Laureate head right.
R: AVGVR (above) TRI POT (below), simpulum, aspergillum, jug & lituus.(emblems of the augurate and potificate)
Rome Mint 71 - 72 A.D.
17.5mm
3.3g
RIC p. 1, 356 SRCV 2282 BMCRE 64