A Judaea Devicta denarius added for Vespasianus

[labienus]

Hi,

just added this fairly uncommon denarius with the Judaea Devicta reverse from the Lugdunum mint (71 AD). Not only due to the weight (3,28 grs) but after very close exam., this denarius doesn't seem plated at all (see David Atherton comments about this type and the high ratio of plated vs non plated). I did also like the style of Vespasian portrait (more energetic, more Roman general than usual portraits of Vespasian).
Photos from the dealer (my camera being off for a few days). Will make another one when camera is back.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-90254

[David Atherton]

Wow! Your example is in better condition than mine. Really a superb coin. And I agree with you about this one not being plated.

Your coin also appears to be a die match to Alberto's specimen: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-88226

[labienus]

Hello, David
thank you very much for the kind comments. I was very interested by your points about the "specific" ratio of plated/non plated for this particular issue. Is this something that could be attributed to the date/mint ? I explain myself : we are in 71 AD and in Lugdunum i.e just two years after the end of the stuggle of the civil war, Lugdunum being one of the centers of the revolt vs Nero. Any possibility that, in light of the need to mint quickly X amount/number of denarii to send the political message about the Judean revolt, there was a local shortage of silver in Lugdunum (due to the mintage of the 67-69 period) and, as a consequence, a higher ratio of plated vs non-plated (although it seems weird for a new power to do that if it wants to ensure trust into its coinage !!!!). Another question : why Lugdunum alone ?
A lot of pending questions out there ....
Thanks again. Will make new photos when my camera is back.
I do agree with the point about die match with Alberto's coin. Seems fairly close.

Best
Pierre

[FlaviusDomitianus]

I agree, our coins look as a die-match; yours is better centered though.

Congrats.

Alberto

[labienus]

Thank you very much for your kind comments, Alberto. Until David's comments, I didn't realize effectively that our coins were "cousins". I do like the features of Vespasian on this die type.
Best
Pierre

[David Atherton]

Yes, there a lot of questions concerning why so many of this ONE type from this specific mint are plated. I've floated the idea before that these are indeed official products and were produced by a "cheating" workshop, either for financial or for other nefarious reasons. That would certainly explain why there are many different dies of the plated type. Conversely, perhaps there was a forger (locally?) operating at the time who just produced this type.

Of course, we will never know concretely why.

[labienus]

Picture (still from the dealer) changed. Looks better. Sorry, David, for the deleted comment on the previous post.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-90256

[David Atherton]

No worries, I just left a new comment.

Judging from the new picture it looks as if it is a recent find (?).

[labienus]

Has not been deeply cleaned, that's for sure, and as far as I'm concerned, I will keep it this way (I don't like cleaning coins). Bought from a well known dealer who bought it in a coin fair a few months ago. Apparently, the coin was kept this way for a while by the seller and I'll do the same as long as I keep it.
Thanks for the new comment.