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OTD,Oct 24: What a Flavian day...vian. Domitian born, Vespasian whoops Vitellius and Titus Vesuvius
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<p>[QUOTE="Numisnewbiest, post: 4967353, member: 99613"]Probably repeated into the ground, but you asked for a Flavian story, so I'm going with the urine tax: Vespasian imposed a urine tax on the distribution of urine from Rome's public urinals. Urine was used in tanning, wool production, and also by launderers as a source of ammonia to clean and whiten woolen garments. The buyers of the urine paid the tax.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Roman historian Suetonius reports that when Titus complained about the disgusting nature of the tax, his father held up a gold coin and asked whether Titus felt offended by its smell. When Titus said "No," Vespasian replied, "Yet it comes from urine" (<i>Atqui ex lotio est</i>). I love Vespasian's sense of humor!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1193897[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Vespasian Dupondius, 71 AD, Rome Mint, RIC 266</p><p>Obverse: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III</p><p>Reverse: CONCORDIA AVGVSTI /SC[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Numisnewbiest, post: 4967353, member: 99613"]Probably repeated into the ground, but you asked for a Flavian story, so I'm going with the urine tax: Vespasian imposed a urine tax on the distribution of urine from Rome's public urinals. Urine was used in tanning, wool production, and also by launderers as a source of ammonia to clean and whiten woolen garments. The buyers of the urine paid the tax. The Roman historian Suetonius reports that when Titus complained about the disgusting nature of the tax, his father held up a gold coin and asked whether Titus felt offended by its smell. When Titus said "No," Vespasian replied, "Yet it comes from urine" ([I]Atqui ex lotio est[/I]). I love Vespasian's sense of humor! [ATTACH=full]1193897[/ATTACH] Vespasian Dupondius, 71 AD, Rome Mint, RIC 266 Obverse: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III Reverse: CONCORDIA AVGVSTI /SC[/QUOTE]
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OTD,Oct 24: What a Flavian day...vian. Domitian born, Vespasian whoops Vitellius and Titus Vesuvius
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