RIC 1359 Vespasian

AR Denarius, 3.29g
Uncertain mint, 69-71 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: ROMA PERPETVA; Roma seated l. on cuirass, holding Victory and parazonium
RIC 1359 (R2). BMC 423. RSC 423. BNC 380.
Ex NAC 125, 24 June 2021, lot 504.

In the wake of the Flavian victory in the Second Battle of Cremona came a flurry of early denarius issues fleetingly struck somewhere in the western provinces. These issues contain some stylistic affinities with the contemporary Spanish issues, but more decisively, recent metal analysis by K. Butcher and M. Ponting show the silver content is almost identical to that of the Spanish coins. It is very likely these early military denarii were also struck in Spain in late 69 soon after the province went over to Vespasian. This ROMA PERPETVA reverse is a brand new innovation with no previous proto-types. Despite the obvious propaganda value this is the only appearance of this evocative legend in the Flavian numismatic canon. Note the engraver's double guide circles on the reverse.

This is the fourth known example of this extremely rare type - remarkably two reside in the BM (#423 a reverse die match) and another in Paris (#380 a double die match). I know of no other specimens. All the coins from these early military issues are exceedingly rare likely owing to the short window of time in which they were struck, perhaps for only a few weeks in late 69.