Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Vespasian 'Dream Coin'
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="David Atherton, post: 3558536, member: 82616"]For many years this dynastic sestertius has been a personal 'dream' or 'grail' coin of mine. Thanks to [USER=88526]@Jay GT4[/USER] for alerting me to the listing!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]945996[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Vespasian</b></p><p>Æ Sestertius, 27.84g</p><p>Rome mint, 71 AD</p><p>RIC 143 (R). BMC 528.</p><p>Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.</p><p>Rev: CAES AVG F DES IMP AVG F COS DES II; S C in field; Titus and Domitian stg. l. and r., with spears; Titus (to r.) also with parazonium, Domitian with roll</p><p>Acquired from Olding, MA Shops, May 2019 = Olding, List 96, March 2019, Sammlung Frita Reusing, no. 140. From the collection of Fritz Reusing (1874-1956), inherited and continued by Reusing's nephew Paul Schürer (1890-1976).</p><p><br /></p><p>An iconic dynastic sestertius struck during Vespasian's great bronze issue of 71. Mattingly in BMCRE II calls it a 'famous' type but erroneously misidentifies the figures on the reverse placing Titus on the left and Domitian on the right. While that is a conventional numismatic placement for the two <i>Caesares,</i> here we see the figure on the left holding a <i>parazonium</i> an attribute of an imperator, which of the two could only be Titus. 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 phantom title <i>Designatus Imperator</i> for Titus! The title COS is implied for Domitian after DES in the legend, a kind of numismatic shorthand if you will. Gunnar Seelentag cleared the matter up in <i>Numismatic Chronicle, Vol 167</i> (2007). The reverse type itself is fairly rare with only a handful of specimens coming to market each decade. Flavian dynastic types are far more common in silver.</p><p><br /></p><p>This particular specimen has the added honour of having a distinguished old pedigree from the Fritz Reusing Collection. Reusing was a German portrait painter of the early 20th Century whose portraits included Richard Strauss, Igor Strawinsky, Max Planck, and Albert Einstein. I would like to think large imperial bronzes such as this one gave him inspiration. After Reusing's death his nephew Paul Schürer inherited and curated the collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>Fine portrait with dark brown and green patina.</p><p><br /></p><p>NB: Special thanks to Curtis Clay for provenance help.</p><p><br /></p><p>Also, the piece came with Reusing's old tag.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]946001[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Feel free to post your dynastic or old provenance coins![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="David Atherton, post: 3558536, member: 82616"]For many years this dynastic sestertius has been a personal 'dream' or 'grail' coin of mine. Thanks to [USER=88526]@Jay GT4[/USER] for alerting me to the listing! [ATTACH=full]945996[/ATTACH] [B]Vespasian[/B] Æ Sestertius, 27.84g Rome mint, 71 AD RIC 143 (R). BMC 528. Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: CAES AVG F DES IMP AVG F COS DES II; S C in field; Titus and Domitian stg. l. and r., with spears; Titus (to r.) also with parazonium, Domitian with roll Acquired from Olding, MA Shops, May 2019 = Olding, List 96, March 2019, Sammlung Frita Reusing, no. 140. From the collection of Fritz Reusing (1874-1956), inherited and continued by Reusing's nephew Paul Schürer (1890-1976). An iconic dynastic sestertius struck during Vespasian's great bronze issue of 71. Mattingly in BMCRE II calls it a 'famous' type but erroneously misidentifies the figures on the reverse placing Titus on the left and Domitian on the right. While that is a conventional numismatic placement for the two [I]Caesares,[/I] here we see the figure on the left holding a [I]parazonium[/I] an attribute of an imperator, which of the two could only be Titus. 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 phantom title [I]Designatus Imperator[/I] for Titus! The title COS is implied for Domitian after DES in the legend, a kind of numismatic shorthand if you will. Gunnar Seelentag cleared the matter up in [I]Numismatic Chronicle, Vol 167[/I] (2007). The reverse type itself is fairly rare with only a handful of specimens coming to market each decade. Flavian dynastic types are far more common in silver. This particular specimen has the added honour of having a distinguished old pedigree from the Fritz Reusing Collection. Reusing was a German portrait painter of the early 20th Century whose portraits included Richard Strauss, Igor Strawinsky, Max Planck, and Albert Einstein. I would like to think large imperial bronzes such as this one gave him inspiration. After Reusing's death his nephew Paul Schürer inherited and curated the collection. Fine portrait with dark brown and green patina. NB: Special thanks to Curtis Clay for provenance help. Also, the piece came with Reusing's old tag. [ATTACH=full]946001[/ATTACH] Feel free to post your dynastic or old provenance coins![/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Vespasian 'Dream Coin'
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...