RIC 0544 Vespasian

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.

File information
Filename:	vespasian_nemesis1.JPG
Album name:	David Atherton / 1. The Reign of Vespasian - Imperial Coins
Filesize:	71 KiB
Date added:	Jun 04, 2009
Dimensions:	796 x 399 pixels
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Comment 1 to 3 of 3

Page: 1

rexesq

[May 31, 2011 at 12:31 PM]

Very interesting reverse, I much like it. Truly an amazing collection you have.... World Class I should say.

Lucas H

[Dec 03, 2012 at 12:56 PM]

I'll deferr to Clay for theories, but it could be that the Flavians wanted to follow certain emperors-Claudius, avoiding others-Nero, and it didn't have to do with the reverse, but the original issuer. This isnt a great answer however, as many of the Flavian types harkened to reverses from the Republic as well however.

David Atherton

[Dec 03, 2012 at 11:56 PM]

Certainly Vespasian was reviving types of fondly remembered individuals and types which connected him to Augustus.

Comment 1 to 3 of 3

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