I just received this
denarius of
Vespasian in the mail today. On the
face of it, the coin seems like another ordinary
denarius minted at
Ephesus, and for the most
part it is...however, it's the fact that this is just a run of the mill offering from that
mint that says so much about how
good it really was.
I bought this for the
portrait (and I needed this
type with the EPHE
mint mark), and what a
portrait it is!
Vespasian is shown here with
his lips slightly parted as if he is about to speak, the eyes look alive, and the
portrait with its
bull neck and high forehead exudes an air of confidence. The
reverse on the other hand looks a
bit rough - it's off center and so worn
poor Titus and
Domitian are faceless,
Titus looking more worse for wear.
Still, enough is left of the engravers hand to see the stylish drapery of the robes and the regal stance of the two princes.
A truly great mint's artistic brilliance will shine through even on worn examples, this coin I believe illustrates the point perfectly.
RIC 1430 (C),
BMC 456,
RSC 250
Ephesus mint, 71 AD
Obv - IMP
CAESAR VESPAS AVG
COS III TR P P P;
Head of
Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev-LIBERI
IMP AVG VESPAS;
Titus and
Domitian veiled,
togate, stg. front (heads l.), each with a
patera; in
exergue, EPHE
