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RIC 0590 Vespasian
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Æ As, 9.44g
Rome mint, 73 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS IIII CENS; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l.
Rev: PAX AVGVST; S C in field; Pax stg. l., leaning on column, with caduceus and branch
RIC 590 (C). BMC 668. BNC 656.
Acquired from CGB.fr, September 2020.
In 73 Vespasian and Titus Caesar held a joint censorship which was duly recorded on the coinage. This As with the slightly less common left facing portrait is from the very first bronze issue recording the censorship. After the recently concluded Judaean and Civil wars, Pax in her various guises was a major theme for Vespasian's coinage. The Pax leaning on a column type is likely based on a cult image while the legend 'PAX AVGVST' advertises the emperor as peacemaker.
Nice eye-appeal.
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