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RIC 1017 Vespasian
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Æ Quadrans, 2.17g
Rome Mint, 77-78 AD
Obv: IMP VESP AVG COS VIII; Caduceus, winged, between crossed cornuacopiae
Rev: S C in laurel wreath
RIC 1017 (C). BMC 741. BNC 911.
Acquired from London Ancient Coins, November 2023.
The quadrans in the early imperial period typically lacked an imperial portrait. Possibly the denomination was deemed so lowly by mint officials that a portrait was considered improper. They were struck haphazardly and functioned primarily as an urban low value coinage in Rome and central Italy. The quadrans was the typical fee for entry into the baths, a urinal, or for a tryst in a cheap brothel. Being of rather low value quadrantes were not typically hoarded and thus are relatively scarce today. This crossed cornuacopiae/S C in wreath type was struck for the quadrans in just two issues dated to 76 and 77-78. The obverse copies a similar reverse type struck for the 'eastern flavoured' dupondii in 74.
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