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RIC 357 Divus Vespasian [Titus] (2)
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AR Denarius, 3.26g
Rome mint, 79-80 AD
Obv: DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: Capricorns, l. and r., crossed, supporting round shield inscribed S C : below, globe
RIC 357 (C2). BMC 129. RSC 497. BNC 101.
Acquired from Civitas Galleries, August 2016.
A rare variant of this common Divus Vespasian denarius type struck under Titus. It is much more common to find the capricorns back to back with no tails, supporting a small shield. Here we see the capricorns crossed with tails, supporting a large shield. Curiously, RIC does not note the rare variant nor assign it a catalogue number.
Previously a jewellery mount piece.
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Or maybe it was just chance that BMC illustrates both varieties. In the text, the reason for illustrating pl. 47.9 is stated to be "larger S C on the shield", not "globe lower, and tails of capricorns shown".