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<p>[QUOTE="David Atherton, post: 3608516, member: 82616"]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!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]966221[/ATTACH]<b>Vespasian</b></p><p>Æ Sestertius, 25.51g</p><p>Lyon mint, 71 AD</p><p>RIC 1137 (R). BMC p. 198 note ‡.</p><p>Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.; globe at point of bust</p><p>Rev: S P Q R / •P•P• / OB CIVES / SERVATOS within oak wreath</p><p>Ex Leu Web Auction 8, 29-30 June 2019, lot 1008.</p><p><br /></p><p>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 <i>corona civica</i> to Vespasian. The <i>corona civica</i> 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 <i>corona quercea</i> 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.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]966222[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The <i>corona civica</i> 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.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is a bust of Vespasian wearing a <i>corona civica</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]966223[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The type was also struck in silver, although the legend was greatly abbreviated to accommodate the small flan of the denarius.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]966224[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Vespasian</b></p><p>AR Denarius, 3.20g</p><p>Rome Mint, 73 AD</p><p>RIC 547 (C). BMC 103. RSC 516.</p><p>Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG CEN; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.</p><p>Rev: S P Q R in oak wreath</p><p>Acquired from Ancient Coin Art, April 2006.</p><p><br /></p><p>This denarius type is sometimes erroneously attributed as an Actian anniversary commemorative.</p><p><br /></p><p>Feel free to post your wreaths![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="David Atherton, post: 3608516, member: 82616"]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! [ATTACH=full]966221[/ATTACH][B]Vespasian[/B] 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 [I]corona civica[/I] to Vespasian. The [I]corona civica[/I] 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 [I]corona quercea[/I] 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. [ATTACH=full]966222[/ATTACH] The [I]corona civica[/I] 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 [I]corona civica[/I]. [ATTACH=full]966223[/ATTACH] The type was also struck in silver, although the legend was greatly abbreviated to accommodate the small flan of the denarius. [ATTACH=full]966224[/ATTACH] [B]Vespasian[/B] 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![/QUOTE]
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