Vitellius or Vespasian? Round Two

I have another early Vespasian denarius with Vitellian features on the way. Which one is it? (This is a bit harder than the last quiz!)



I will share the answer and the coin once it is in hand in a few days.

 

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This is harder than the last one. My guess is #3.

#1 has clear features of Vitellius. #2 looks more like a Vitellius/Otho mashup. #4 is a possibility, although the profile looks more like Vitellius than does #3.

 

all your choices make you change your mind...

 

i'll gut go #1.. but may end up a #2><

 

For me it's a toss-up between 3 or 4....so a coin flip chooses----#3

 

3 or 4 here too. I go with #3.

 

I went with #3, my first gut response.

 

Glad I voted before I scrolled down. I think I would've just got confused.
#3 is what the voice in my head said.

 

I'll go for number 3, so for the rest of you I'm probably wrong. Pick one of the others.

 

I actually think #1 is the most Vespasianish, so I went with that one.

 

I'm going to go with #2

 

This one is tougher. I went with number 2 again. These are very good exercises. Thanks for doing this.

 

i though 3

 

whye those looks at vitellius he is not family from vespasian
the Vespasian soldiery killed him

Lucius Vitellius and Sextilia
Publius Vitellius and was his father

father from vespasian was titus

 

It's a poll to vote which one you think is Vespasian. The other 3 are Vitellius.

 

Please vote if you haven't already done so. I'll be updating with the answer in a couple of days once the coin is in hand.

 

The coin arrived yesterday and now I'm ready to post the answer.

*Drum roll*



Coin #1 is Vespasian.




Vespasian
AR Denarius, 2.82g
Rome Mint, 69-70 AD
RIC 21 (C), BMC 17, RSC 94a
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: COS ITER TR POT; Aequitas, draped, standing l., holding scales in r. hand, transverse rod in l.

The coin was likely struck in the early weeks of Vespasian's reign, which would account for the unusual portrait.

Those of you who guessed wrong, keep in mind this is a strikingly Vitellius-like portrait. The quiz would've fooled me too!

 

Wow, that would be the last one I would guess. To me it shows how important the propaganda was in advertising the new emperor. He had to establish himself as early as possible.

 

Cool. I voted #4, but #1 wouldn't have even been my second choice. I would have chosen #2 over #1.

Do all varieties of RIC 21c look like Vitellius, or just some?

 

This is a tough one! My emporer identification skills are severely limited. It became evident to me when I purchased Titus denarii thinking they were Vespasians.