RIC 0796 Vespasian

AR Quinarius, 1.53g
Rome mint, 75(?) AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTI; Victory adv. r., with wreath and palm
RIC 796 (R). BMC -. RSC 614 var. (rev. legend). BNC -.
Acquired from NumisCorner, October 2021.

Vespasian's moneyer's struck a great issue of undated quinarii in 75, possibly in conjunction with the opening of his Temple of Peace. Two standard Victory types (seated and advancing) were employed along with various variant legend spellings and orientations. The variations are: obverse legend - VESPASIANVS or less commonly VESPASIAN; reverse legend - AVGVSTI or less commonly AVGVST. The reverse legend can also either be oriented from low r. or high l. This coin is considered one of the less common variants with VESPASIAN in the obverse legend and AVGVSTI in the reverse, oriented from low r. All quinarii struck during the Flavian era are exceedingly rare compared to the denarii. Vespasian's largest issue of quinarii is this undated issue which most likely dates to 75. The quinarii struck before 75 have AVGVSTI in the reverse legend, while those struck after 75 use the shorter AVGVST. This undated issue employs both forms and therefore fits neatly with a 75 production date. The portrait is quite stylish for such a small flan.