Scarce variant of Vespasian RIC 980

[orfew]

I like picking up interesting variants of known coins. The small differences make the coins interesting to research and fun to own. This coin looks like a regular common Vespasian RIC 980 with the modius reverse. However, this coin has poppies between the grain ears on the reverse.


https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-152657

[curtislclay]

You have probably noticed that Paris 191, pl. XXXIII has a similar denarius with 7 wheat ears and two poppies, though differently arranged: 3 wheat ears in the middle, then one poppy and 2 more wheat ears on each side. Cohen 219 correctly noticed the poppies on this Paris coin, though without describing their exact position: "Modius with seven wheat ears and two poppies".

Specimens in Reka Devnia hoard: 8 without poppies, 1 with poppies.

BM 217 has a coin like yours, with just one wheat ear in the middle, then a poppy and three more wheat ears on each side: see their online picture below. The BMC description wrongly describes this coin as showing only five wheat ears, one in middle and only two (rather than three) on each side.

RIC 980 says merely "Modius with corn ears (and poppies on some dies)."

[orfew]

Thank you Curtis for that interesting information regarding my coin.

I checked OCRE and Berlin has an example as well.