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RIC 0544 Vespasian
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AR Denarius, 3.20g
Rome Mint, 73 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG CENS; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: PONTIF MAXIM; Nemesis adv. r., holding caduceus over snake
RIC 544 (R). BMC 97. RSC 385. BNC 85.
Ex eBay, June 2009.
The reverse is copied from a denarius of Claudius. Curtis Clay has proposed that these 'revival' types were recycled because Vespasian melted down many older denarii and minted these antique reverse types to replace them. It would be interesting to know why certain types were chosen and others forgotten about. Did Nemesis hold a special meaning to the Flavians?
This type is infrequently encountered in trade.
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