Vespasian is Awarded the Corona Civica

Vespasian Plate Coin Provenance Puzzle

My latest coin shows it’s beneficial to do your own provenance research… you’ll never know what you may find!

Profound Portrait and Provenance

Sometimes things come together to make a coin interesting on multiple levels. Happily, my latest has a few things going for it: rarity, style, and provenance. What more could you ask for?

Vespasian and Galba Share a Die

Vespasian’s sestertii from early 71 are quite rare – even more so with a reverse die recycled from Galba’s reign!

Vespasian Temple of Vesta

Recently I was absolutely thrilled to have acquired this rare Temple of Vesta as struck by Vespasian. As a huge fan of architecture on Roman coins, it’s been a long sought after variety and one of my top ‘white whale’ coins.

Rebuilding the Temple of Jupiter

Like Father, Like Son

The Flavian denarii struck at a mystery ‘o’ mint in Asia Minor are extremely coveted by collectors. The series is riddled with mint mules – none more unlikely than this Domitian Caesar PRINCEPS IVVENTVT Spes type struck for Vespasian. I am very pleased to share it here!

Rare Is Not Always Pretty!

Admittedly, this is not a beautiful coin. But what it lacks in aesthetic appeal it makes up for in rarity. In nearly two decades of searching I have not seen another example in trade, so I could not pass it up!

Vespasian
AR Denarius, 3.20g
Antioch mint, 70 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: AVG in oak wreath
RIC 1541 (R2). BMC 497. BNC 326. RPC 1915 (3 spec.). RSC 36a.
Ex Harlan J Berk, MBS 224, lot 133. Ex Curtis Clay Collection. Ex Rauch, E15, 16-18 June 2014, lot 161.

An exceedingly rare first issue Antiochene denarius. The AVG in wreath reverse was fleetingly struck in 70 alongside the equally rare Pax and Virtus denarius types. It copies a similar design contemporaneously issued from Ephesus. My example shares an obverse die with the Oxford specimen and a seated Pax type from the same issue. Three other specimens of the type are known, all of which are in major collections – mine is the only one I am aware of in private hands.

A Vespasian ‘o’ Mint Mule

The Flavian denarii struck at the mysterious ‘o’ mint in Asia Minor are quite coveted by Flavian collectors for their rarity and fine style. My latest addition is possibly a second known specimen from the mint.

A Civil War Military Denarius

I love the so called ‘military denarii’ struck for Vespasian during or in the immediate aftermath of the 69 AD Civil War. They are rare as hen’s teeth and rarely come up in trade. Strange portraits, odd legend arrangements, and unique reverse types abound. They open a fascinating window on a time of turmoil and transition.