Just snagged this rare Vespasian

This popped up on VCoins a little while ago. It is a very sought after reverse for Vespasian which features Nemesis. A reverse copied from a denarius of Claudius.

I already have one of these but 2 are better...right?


Vespasian, 69-79 A.D.AR Denarius, 3.15 gr. – 18.9 mm. Rome, 73 A.D.
Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG CENS. Laureate head of Vespasian to right.
Rev: MAXIM PONTIF. Nemesis walking to right holding caduceus over snake.
C 385, RIC 544. SRCV I (2000) 2304




It will go very nicely along side of my other example.


Vespasian, 69-79 A.D.AR Denarius, 3.16g. 21.41mm. Rome, 73 A.D.
Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG CENS. Laureate head of Vespasian to right.
Rev: MAXIM PONTIF. Nemesis walking to right holding caduceus over snake.
C 385, RIC 544. SRCV I (2000) 2304
Ex: E. E. Clain- collection. Ex: Numismatica Ars Classica - Auction 92 Part 2, Lot 2133 May 24, 2016 275 CHF ; Ex: Ed waddell September 7, 2016
Coin depicted in the Wildwinds.com database.
Best of type in the Forum Ancient Coins Galleries

 

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You got that for a steal! And both dies are different.

Nice pick-up!

 

Both terrific looking coins. I don't think you can ever have too many 1st century coins.

 

Nice pick up, but your first one is absolutely exceptional, by coincidence I looked at it in Best of type in the Forum Ancient Coins Galleries a couple of days ago, very impressed.

 

Thanks David. I did notice that the dies were different. I find that interesting given the rarity of this type.

 

Thanks @octavius In a month or 2 my entire collection will be over 95% first century coins.

 

Thanks very much for the kind comments. I was very lucky to find this one especially given the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli provenance. When I saw it I did not hesitate, I bought it immediately. I absolutely love the look of it.

 

It arrived today with nice surprise. The seller included a laminated 4X6 card with a photo, the provenance info, and the attribution. This is a nice touch imho.

 

Nice.

Only 2?

 

Beautiful acquisitions, @Orfew ! After enjoying your thread, I searched VCoins and was unable to find another like it.

I must make a confession—During my absence from the Forum, I've fallen back on one of my old habits—I've renewed my NGC membership and sent 90 of my coins off to be slabbed and certified.

Okay guys—I'm ready to receive my scolding.

 

Naughty naughty!

Erin

 

They say confession is good for the soul, but the priest at the end says go and sin no more. Therefore "go and slab no more".
Always nice reading you entries Deacon.

 

Heh! While I wouldn't do this, and I think it's safe to say you're in the minority of collectors who like slabbed ancients, there are undeniable benefits. While from what I remember NGC doesn't come out and say they certify, as in explicitly vouch for authenticity, I doubt their ancient coin guy (coin guys?) is a newbie. NGC certainly has the budget to get top-rated experts to avoid the embarrassment of slabbing fakes. I have to assume that in their business plan for the ancients section they took this aspect into account as a primary mission.

More importantly, your coins will be safer behind the inert plastic than they would be out in the open. Even the staunchest anti-slabbers among us must cringe on the occasion of dropping one of our coins on the floor or see their kids handle a coin with Cheetos-covered fingers.... things that don't happen when the coin is locked up. If nothing else, the coins will not deteriorate in there and that's an important plus.

Oh, and the fact that if that that NGC plastic will result in an extra bid or two on ebay, at least, making the expense potentially an investment!