In the recent Leu Web Auction I was very pleased to have landed a fairly rare sestertius struck for Vespasian in 71. Researching the meaning of the reverse was quite fascinating! Vespasian Æ Sestertius, 25.51g Lyon mint, 71 AD RIC 1137 (R). BMC p. 198 note ‡. Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.; globe at point of bust Rev: S P Q R / •P•P• / OB CIVES / SERVATOS within oak wreath Ex Leu Web Auction 8, 29-30 June 2019, lot 1008. During the great bronze issue of 71 a sestertius reverse type was struck at both Rome and Lyon (ancient Lugdunum) which commemorates the Senate awarding the corona civica to Vespasian. The corona civica was originally a military honour bestowed upon a Roman who had saved a fellow citizen's life in battle. It was one of the greatest public honours. In the imperial era the honour developed from a coveted military decoration into an imperial emblem granted by the Senate to the emperor. The wreath was made of oak leaves and is sometimes called a corona quercea after the common name for the oak. Plutarch believed the oak was chosen for this highest of honours for several reasons. The tree was easily found throughout the countryside and was quite convenient for fashioning a wreath when the need arose. Also, the oak is sacred to Jupiter and Juno and thus was an appropriate symbolic honour given to one who has saved the life of a fellow Roman citizen. Finally, the early settlers of Rome, the Arcadians, were nicknamed 'acorn-eaters' in an oracle of Apollo. The corona civica was awarded to Vespasian by the Senate for rescuing the Roman people from civil war and bringing about peace. The legend within the wreath S P Q R / P P / OB CIVES / SERVATOS translates as: 'The Senate and the Roman People / Father of the Nation / For Having Saved the Citizens'. This rare Lugdunese specimen commemorating the award was struck during the first bronze issue at that mint. Here is a bust of Vespasian wearing a corona civica. The type was also struck in silver, although the legend was greatly abbreviated to accommodate the small flan of the denarius. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.20g Rome Mint, 73 AD RIC 547 (C). BMC 103. RSC 516. Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG CEN; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: S P Q R in oak wreath Acquired from Ancient Coin Art, April 2006. This denarius type is sometimes erroneously attributed as an Actian anniversary commemorative. Feel free to post your wreaths!
A wonderful coin David. Congrats! I love that type. Unfortunately I am still waiting for my Leu lot to be delivered. Here are a couple of wreaths. Galba RIC 62 Vespasian RIC 1414 Augustus RIC 477
…………… A Sestertius of Claudius: Claudius perceived that it was imperative for him to accomplish a great feat of arms in order to enhance his prestige with the Senate and prove himself worthy of the title of Augustus. His own father NERO CLAUDIUS DRUSUS and brother GERMANICUS had been acclaimed as great military leaders on the northern frontier and he was determined to emulate their successes. His predecessor (and nephew), CALIGULA, had set out to conquer Britain and add that island outpost to the Empire, but had failed. Now Claudius was determined to fulfill that mission and to that end in AD 43 he dispatched an advanced force consisting of four legions commanded by a renowned general, AULUS PLAUTIUS to invade Britain and engage the Britannic forces there. Shortly thereafter Claudius landed in Britain and assumed command of the army led by General Plautius. In short order Claudius accepted the surrender of the Britannic forces, appointed Plautius Governor of Britannia and subsequently returned to Rome to celebrate his Triumph and enhance his entitlement by the Senate as Father of the Country - PATER PATRIAE (PP), and exalted servant of the People - OB CIVES SERVATOS - and as restorer of Liberty - LIBERTAS. RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 112, 50-54AD (36mm, 28.2gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP Reverse depiction: Civic Oak Wreath Inscription in four lines: EX SC P P OB CIVES SERVATOS (within Civic wreath) *** Nice coin and excellent write-up David ***
IMITATIVE CLAUDIUS OB CIVES SERVATOS SESTERTIUS WITH COUNTERMARK BMCRE, Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 120, 41-45AD (38mm, 29.2gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP Countermarked PROB Mattingly note - Cmk. in oblong incuse in front of neck and face; end of legend obliterated Reverse depiction: Civic Oak Wreath Inscription in four lines: EX SC O B C I V E S SERVATOS (within Civic Oak Wreath) Enlargement of PROB countermark: PROB (Probatum = approved) countermark. I believe this to be an irregular issue coin (struck from locally made unofficial dies). Note the flattened and bulged area on the reverse resulting from the very heavily struck countermark on the obverse which was carelessly positioned almost off the flan. The inscriptional lettering on the reverse is somewhat uneven and not very well formed.
Thanks everyone for sharing your wreath coins! It seems it was a primarily a first century type, I would be curious to know how prevalent it was in later centuries.
I wonder if by Vespasian's day the physical corona civica was constructed of actual oak leaves? If so, based on the photo of the bust of Vespasian in the OP, it may have looked similar to this. Or, perhaps a wreath awarded to the emperor was crafted from a precious metal such as gold. Although, I have a hunch that the rustic Vespasian would have preferred the traditional version. An oak tree from the region of Vespasian's birth. I'm still doing a bit research on oak wreaths, so please forgive the indulgence.
Very cool coin and write up! Thanks for sharing Here's a dual purpose wreath: let em know you're boss. Don't let em know you're bald(ing): Augustus with Divus Julius Caesar (27 BC-14 AD) MACEDON. Thessalonica. Obv: ΘEOΣ. Wreathed head of Julius Caesar right; uncertain c/m on neck. Rev: ΘEΣΣAΛONIKEΩN. Bare head of Augustus right; Δ below. RPC I 1554. Fine. 12.3 g.21 mm. Former: Numismatik Naumann
I just had to include this coin. Sestertius of Caius (Caligula) Obv Head left. Rv.Oak wreath. RIC 37 Minted 37-38 A.D. 27.88 grms
Lovely coin, David! I love the SPQR motif as well, and actively collect coins bearing it. Here are two cousins to your nice Vespasian SPQR sestertius: This examples is ex. DNW. Originally from the Prince Waldeck Collection, Basel 1934. This second example is unfortunately badly pitted and corroded, but I like the motif so much I could not leave it behind...(it cost less than 70 euros).
A few more sestertii bearing the SPQR / Oak Wreath motif. Gaius 'Caligula' Claudius: Galba: Galba as: Galba denarius:
Great coins coins being depicted here! I too like the SPQR motif: Example of inscription in obverse field: Sestertius, RIC, Vol. I, Tiberius, No. 68, AD 36-37 (35mm, 22.6gm) Cataloged in Wildwinds under Augustus - Sear 1784 Coin obverse depiction: Augustus, radiate, togate, holding laurel branch in r. hand and long sceptre in l., seated on throne, placed on a car, drawn l. by four elephants, each bearing a mahout on its neck. The side of the car is ornamented with shields Inscription across top in three lines DIVO AVGVSTO SPQR Coin reverse depiction: Large, centered S C Inscription clockwise from top: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST PM TR POT XXXIIX Apologies for the thread drift David
Interesting to note that our coins come from the same mint, struck at the same time, but yet the wreaths are artistically quite different!
Sestertius of Claudius Rv Oak wreath RIC 112 50-54 A.D. 25.76 grms 37 mm Denarius of Augustus Colonia Patricia Rv Oak Wreath RIC 77a 29 B.C. 3.90 grms 18 mm