While in Rome today I came across this super cool antiques shop. The lady who owns it has a husband who is into ancient coins, duh: this is Rome. She showed me this little collection of coins that were for sale and I knew I had to buy one. They were a bit overpriced, but I found a couple I liked. The one that really got my eye was a Septimus Severus sel. Denarius. This thing was mint state, like...no scratches, wear, anything! She was asking 120 euros for it though. And I mean, it's Septimus Severus. So I end up buying this amazing dupondius from Vespasian. Heres where I'm stumped, I have no clue what the reverse shows. I was told that it was Ceres, but I know it's not. I think it's pax or fecilitas. Heres the coin: Heres Pax: Heres Fecilitas: But then what gets me is the alignment of the feet and hands. The varieties that are known show a constant Fecilitas, which might be what it is. But the head doesn't look radiate on the obverse, which if you know, is what the Fecilitas variety shows most commonly for this dupondius. AND, the SC is barely showing, therefore making it pure variety. If it is pure, then it is this coin from AD 73: Look at the feet position, how the little point meets at the bottom. Heres my coin for reference. Tell me your opinion, if I'm close, etc. You know the stuff. In case you want to see the obverse here it is. Oh, and here's a cool photo I took at the Pantheon!!!
There used to be lots of coin/antique kiosks around Campo dei Fiori and some of the smaller streets off of and parallel the Via Del Corso. That was many years ago. Enjoy exploring!
