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From Tragedy to Triumph: Vespasian 'Dream Coin' Part 2
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<p>[QUOTE="David Atherton, post: 3574383, member: 82616"]A few weeks ago I purchased a rare provenanced Vespasian sestertius. It was a personal 'dream coin' of mine. <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/vespasian-dream-coin.340287/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/vespasian-dream-coin.340287/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/vespasian-dream-coin.340287/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Alas, the coin turned out to be a 19th century cast forgery.</p><p><br /></p><p>I informed the seller and got a generous refund, plus I was able to keep the token for my Black Cabinet.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now, I'm happy to report I was able to recently acquire a superb replacement! Not only is it genuine, but also it's a rarer variant in finer style. I can honestly say this 'Dream Coin' is now one of my favourite coins in my collection!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]952845[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Vespasian</b></p><p>Æ Sestertius, 24.45g</p><p>Lyon mint, 71 AD</p><p>RIC 1132 (R). BMC 799.</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: CAESAR AVG F DES IMP AVG F COS DES II; S C in exergue; Titus and Domitian stg. front, each with spear and parazonium</p><p>Acquired from Romae Aeternae, June 2019.</p><p><br /></p><p>An iconic dynastic sestertius struck during Vespasian's great bronze issue of 71. The type was struck both at Rome and Lyon (ancient Lugdunum). Mattingly in BMCRE II calls it a 'famous' type placing the figures on the reverse as Titus on the left and Domitian on the right. While that is a conventional numismatic placement for the two Caesares, here we see the figure on the left holding a parazonium an attribute of an imperator, which of the two could only be Titus. Conversely, the figure on the left is holding something smaller (a roll?) that does not appear to be a parazonium, despite the above RIC description. The reverse legend corresponds for this placement of the figures with the first half of the legend CAES AVG F DES for Domitian on the left, the second half IMP AVG F COS DES II for Titus on the right. The legend has caused confusion over the years with some numismatists creating the possible phantom title Designatus Imperator for Titus. The title COS is implied for Domitian after DES in the legend, a kind of numismatic shorthand if you will. Gunnar Seelentag attempted to clear up the matter up in Numismatic Chronicle, Vol 167 (2007), but doubts remain. Curtis Clay has proposed that the traditional view of Titus on the left and Domitian on the right is correct, pointing out that both are holding a parazonium, theorising Titus' is hidden behind his body with only the handle showing. His arguments in full can be read here: <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=44488.0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=44488.0" rel="nofollow">http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=44488.0</a> The reverse type itself is fairly rare with only a handful of specimens coming to market each decade, this Lugdunese specimen is a bit scarcer than those from Rome. Flavian dynastic types are far more common in silver.</p><p><br /></p><p>I just love the reverse!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]952849[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>In the end this all worked out for the best. Not only did I acquire a better specimen, I also got a bit of an education regarding old collections and forgeries.</p><p><br /></p><p>Feel free to show any coins or tell any stories where victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="David Atherton, post: 3574383, member: 82616"]A few weeks ago I purchased a rare provenanced Vespasian sestertius. It was a personal 'dream coin' of mine. [URL]https://www.cointalk.com/threads/vespasian-dream-coin.340287/[/URL] Alas, the coin turned out to be a 19th century cast forgery. I informed the seller and got a generous refund, plus I was able to keep the token for my Black Cabinet. Now, I'm happy to report I was able to recently acquire a superb replacement! Not only is it genuine, but also it's a rarer variant in finer style. I can honestly say this 'Dream Coin' is now one of my favourite coins in my collection! [ATTACH=full]952845[/ATTACH] [B]Vespasian[/B] Æ Sestertius, 24.45g Lyon mint, 71 AD RIC 1132 (R). BMC 799. Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.; globe at point of bust Rev: CAESAR AVG F DES IMP AVG F COS DES II; S C in exergue; Titus and Domitian stg. front, each with spear and parazonium Acquired from Romae Aeternae, June 2019. An iconic dynastic sestertius struck during Vespasian's great bronze issue of 71. The type was struck both at Rome and Lyon (ancient Lugdunum). Mattingly in BMCRE II calls it a 'famous' type placing the figures on the reverse as Titus on the left and Domitian on the right. While that is a conventional numismatic placement for the two Caesares, here we see the figure on the left holding a parazonium an attribute of an imperator, which of the two could only be Titus. Conversely, the figure on the left is holding something smaller (a roll?) that does not appear to be a parazonium, despite the above RIC description. The reverse legend corresponds for this placement of the figures with the first half of the legend CAES AVG F DES for Domitian on the left, the second half IMP AVG F COS DES II for Titus on the right. The legend has caused confusion over the years with some numismatists creating the possible phantom title Designatus Imperator for Titus. The title COS is implied for Domitian after DES in the legend, a kind of numismatic shorthand if you will. Gunnar Seelentag attempted to clear up the matter up in Numismatic Chronicle, Vol 167 (2007), but doubts remain. Curtis Clay has proposed that the traditional view of Titus on the left and Domitian on the right is correct, pointing out that both are holding a parazonium, theorising Titus' is hidden behind his body with only the handle showing. His arguments in full can be read here: [URL]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=44488.0[/URL] The reverse type itself is fairly rare with only a handful of specimens coming to market each decade, this Lugdunese specimen is a bit scarcer than those from Rome. Flavian dynastic types are far more common in silver. I just love the reverse! [ATTACH=full]952849[/ATTACH] In the end this all worked out for the best. Not only did I acquire a better specimen, I also got a bit of an education regarding old collections and forgeries. Feel free to show any coins or tell any stories where victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat.[/QUOTE]
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From Tragedy to Triumph: Vespasian 'Dream Coin' Part 2
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