RIC 1167 Vespasian

Æ As, 11.17g
Lyon mint, 71 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.; globe at point of bust
Rev: PROVIDENT; S C in field; Altar
RIC 1167 (R). BMC 810. BNC -.
Acquired from Praefectus Coins, July 2022.

Tiberius was the first to strike the PROVIDENT altar type for Divus Augustus. The altar depicted is dedicated to Providentia, the personification of the emperor's divine providence. Although the type is commonly described in the major references as an altar, Marvin Tameanko has convincingly argued it is actually a sacellum, or small shrine. This popular reverse was later revived during the Civil War by Galba and Vitellius. Vespasian began striking it early in his reign, especially during his great bronze issue of 71 at both Rome and Lugdunum. This Lugdunese example is much rarer than the Rome variant.

Missing from Paris.