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RIC 0319 Vespasian
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Æ As, 11.84g
Rome mint, 71 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: SALVS AVGVSTI; S C in field; Salus resting on column r., feeding snake out of patera
RIC 319 (R2). BMC 619A. BNC -.
Ex Rex Numismatics, Auction 1, 15 July 2023, lot 348.
Salus resting on column and feeding snake is an extremely rare type for Vespasian, it is more commonly associated with the denarii struck for Domitian Caesar. This Salus type may be attributed to the health and well-being of the emperor. It is known for Vespasian only from a unique dupondius (RIC 60) and this as variety, of which only a few specimens have been recorded. Whatever the cause for the type being struck for Vespasian, it must have been fleeting based on the scarcity of the pieces. A reverse die match with the BM specimen.
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