Were there any Jupiter seated left, Victory + scepter issues for Vespasian

[CCcoins]

Hello all
i have a silver denarius that what appears to be Vespasian on the obverse and Jupiter seated left, holding Victory and scepter on the reverse. Did this combination exist or have i got the wrong emperor.
The coin measures 18mm

Thanks in advance for anyones help.

Kind regards Callum

[David Atherton]

Hard to tell what the reverse is, but the portrait looks like Titus.

If I was to hazard a guess based on what I can see in the photo:
RIC V974 (R), BMCRE V321, RSC 31
Rome Mint, 78-79 A.D.
Obv - T CAESAR VESPASIANVS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev - CERES AVGVST; Ceres, draped to feet, standing l., holding poppy and two corn-ears in extended r. hand and long vertical sceptre in l.

I hope pareidolia is not at play here!

BTW, on Flavian denarii Jupiter is standing, see Vespasian RIC 849.

[CCcoins]

I am nearly positive that the figure on the reverse is seated left, holding a scepter behind, with his/her arm outstretched and holding something in-front.
The reverse design seems to be similar to this coin of Vitellius
RIC 68 Denarius Obv: AVITELLIVSGERMANICVSIMP - Bare head right.
Rev: IVPPITERVICTOR - Jupiter seated left, holding Victory and scepter. April - December 69 (Rome).

but the obv bust seems very different

[curtislclay]

Maybe Titus Caesar with Pax seated, as on the denarius below?

Or maybe Vespasian with the same type, COS VI: the top of the first V of VESPASIANVS would then be visible above the center of the portrait.

[CCcoins]

I'm sorry every one but it is defiantly Jupiter seated left holding a scepter. I held the coin up to the sun to highlight the details of the  coin on the picture below. This is very strange, can we just agree that the emperor is Vespasian or are some thinking Titus.

[Exergus]

With obverse bust: head laureate right, and a reverse showing a "figure" seated left holding sceptre (perhaps a caduceus ?) I can't find any reverse matching for Titus, instead, there are some for Vespasianus and Domitianus, the references come from the old edition of the RIC II (1926):

Vespasianus
10 and 39: Pax seated left holding branch and caduceus
213: Pax seated left holding branch and sceptre

Vespasianus (under Titus)
65: Pax seted left holding branch and caduceus

Domitianus (under Vespasianus)
244: Vesta seated left holding Palladium and sceptre

Domitianus (under Titus)
42 and 48: Vesta seated left holding Palladium and sceptre

Waiting more opinions...

Exergus 

[David Atherton]

I'd say Titus. The style of the portrait is consistent with those of Titus with the pax or annona seated reverse. Jupiter is not seated on Flavian denarii.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1192&pos=24

Maybe the outstretched arm you are seeing is a feature of the flan either through wear or perhaps a flaw?

[curtislclay]

Or maybe it's the apparent legs that really don't belong to the type.

Reconstructing a seated figure places the ground line about 40% up the reverse, leaving an unnaturally large exergue. So maybe the figure is actually standing, and the ground line in considerably lower?

There would be a number of appropriate standing figures, for example CERES AVGVST of Titus, as shown below.

I think the only way to ID this coin with certainty, however, would be to figure out the traces of lettering before and above the portrait on the obv. and to the right on the reverse. Enough seems to survive that the legend ought to fall into place and become legible if confronted with the right matching type in better condition.

[David Atherton]

I agree with Curtis wholeheartedly. My first thought as indicated above was the CERES reverse.

If you insist the figure is seated it has to be the ANNONA reverse, but I think Curtis has demonstrated quite convincingly that a seated figure would be very off center.

[CCcoins]

thanks curtislclay, and everyone for offering your opinions. I will have another look at this coin under a new light (in the sense that i will be looking at the coin under new angles of light, and than i will be viewing with the knowledge it may be a standing figure).


Kind regards Callum