Vespasian Silver Denarius - Clasped Hands

Well, I finnally got my first coin of Vespasian, and my first coin of the 12 Caesars that is struck in Rome. My Christmas gift to myself
I really like it, and have always loved this reverse... I especially like how much detail remains on the hands, and the poppy pods look very clear, you can see the crown on the top of each of the pods and everything, very nice.
Sadly a bit off center making part of the reverse and obverse titles off the flan, also the top of the caduceus is cut off on the reverse I still love it though!

I notice in the descriptions written by other owners of this example on FORVM, they all write that the reverse is a Caduceus with poppies and corn ears.... that can't be right... they are grain ears right? Isn't corn, maze, a new world thing?

Reguardless, I sure do love me this coin! I'll put up some new photos later this week when I have some free time. Let me know what y'all think.

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Vespasian AR Denarius - Clasped Hands
Rome Mint, AD 73

obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG PM COS IIII CEN - Laureled head right.

rev: FIDES PVBL - Clasped hands holding wheat ears, opium poppies and caduceus.
3 grams.

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I've found that a bunch of academic sources refer to all Roman grain as "corn," including Geoffrey Rickman's The Corn Supply of Ancient Rome. I think it's a British thing. Maize had not yet been introduced to Europe at the time, so they definitely weren't referring to that in the description of this coin.

 

Ah, okay.... makes sense.

 

Im always seeing a corn reference when I check out the description's on forum galleries.

 

Sweet addition; yeah the term corn comes up alot. I remeber reading the galic war and going "huh?" a couple times lol. I have a clasped hand sestertius of Vespasian but its pretty knarly looking.

 

Ah cool. Yeah I would have been confused by that as well, thankfully there are people to explain such things to us here
I saw your Vespasian sestertius, it is a bit rough... but still with some legible titles and identifiable.

The only other Vespasian coin I really want aside from this one is the one with just a Winged Caduceus on the reverse.... I have an offer in on one of the nicest I have seen now, but I don't know how that will go.

 

Nice and strong portrait of Vespasianus. I like it.

Rex, isn't the Winged Caduceus coin of Vespasian a dupondius, minted not at Rome but at a provincial mint (Commagene?). I agree that is a very appealing coin.

 

Antoninus Pius issued a "Clasped Hands" denarius also:



Antoninus Pius Denarius - Hands
Obverse: Laureate head right / ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P
Reverse: Clasped hands holding grain ears & caduceus / COS IIII
Catalog: RIC 136 RSC 344 - Struck around AD 145 (Consul IIII)

 

The first denarius I ever bought was one of those, though it's hardly in good shape:

Vespasian
Reigned AD 69-79
Coin struck AD 74
AR Denarius

O: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate bust right

R: PON MAX TR P COS V, Winged Caduceus

 

Still a great coin Gao, beautiful detail on the caduceus, I really like that one alot.

willieboyd: That is a beautiful example, the clasped hands style was used by several emperors and in several variations, yours of Antoninus Pius has the caduceus and grain ears, but no opium poppies, like those of Vespasian. I think that someone also did one where there was a standard in the middle of the clasped hands...

Eduard: Thank you for your comments, the 'Winged Caduceus' coin I am talking about is the silver denarius that Gao posted a photo of above, that has a winged caduceus alone, by itself on the reverse. The clasped hands one also has a winged caduceus in the middle, but the top is off the flan on my example.

 

*Update - NEW VESPASIANVS - Winged Caduceus

Well, after waiting for the dealer to get home from vacation, he accepted my offer on this Vespasian Silver Denarius - Winged Caduceus reverse. I just love it! The detail on the snakes heads on the top of the caduceus is great. The portrait of the Emperor is also quite strong, he looks mean, tough.... everything a great military leader and emperor of the time should be.

Let me know what you guys think of this coin it wasn't cheap, more expensive than the clasped hands Vespasian coin in this thread, but I got quite a deal on that one... this one too actually.... I will see about taking some new photos if I have the time and get a chance.

 

I was curious about the origins of the word "corn". Apparently, it meant was used to describe any and all cereal crops prior to contact with the Americas and the importation of maize.

So, corn : wheat as meat : beef.

 

really nice addition! Bit of a large chin but its a great portrait.

 

Nice coin.

Many Brit historians will tell you about the importance of the Corn laws in 19th century British politics, which had nothing to do with the American concept of "corn." (The controversy created a split in the conservative party with Disraeli leaving the party and emerging as a potent force in British politics.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_Laws

An important quote from the article:

guy

 

Both are nice coins rexesq.
If you're looking for clasped hands, don't forget Balbinus and Pupienus have some nice antoniniani with various legends on that subject

Q

 

Also in middle English 'deer' meant any wild animal so when Robin Hood went poaching in Sherwood forest, he may have been after squirrel or anything else as well as antlered animals. Americans often have problems with English language differences (lift, lorry) for common words. We understand when the French or Spanish have different terms for something but it is harder when the 'foreign' language is our own.

 

That is a nice coin too, rex. Another nice expressive protrait (different than your clasped hands example), and with a reverse that I do not recall seeing too often on Vespasian denarii.

 

Thank you Eduard, yes I love this reverse, and the portrait.... I just love the whole coin in general. I have only seen a few with this reverse sell in my time dealing with ancient coins, and usually for pretty high. I am quite happy with this one, and will put up some new photos when I have some time.

Cucumbor: yes the Balbinus and Pupienus Clasped Hands Antoninianus is one of the first places I saw the design, I much like that one, and would love to own one someday. I like the poppies and grain ears in the Vespasian I have. I like how the Balbinus one is a bit larger, that is always nice.... plus all coins of those Emperors are fairly rare.... sure are some beautiful examples though.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

 

Here are two of them, just for your pleasure :





Q

 

Wow those are some beautiful pieces Cucumbor.