RIC 0736 Vespasian

Æ Quadrans, 2.79g
Rome Mint, 74 AD
Obv: IMP VESPASIAN AVG; Rudder on globe
Rev: P M TR P P P COS V; S C in field; Caduceus, winged
RIC 736 (R). BMC 706. BNC 726.
Acquired from The Time Machine, eBay, May 2020.

The quadrans in the early imperial period typically lacked an imperial portrait. Tariffed at a quarter of an As, the denomination was possibly deemed too lowly by mint officials to warrant a portrait. 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 being virtually absent from site finds outside central and south-central Italy (in contrast, over 1,827 quadrantes have been found at Pompeii). The rudder on globe can be explained as a symbol of the 'rector orbis' and its pairing with the winged caduceus 'points to the commercial prosperity brought by good government' (BMC II, pp. li, and liii). The COS V issue is the first appearance of the type under Vespasian.

Dark reddish brown patina and nicely centred. A decent example of the type!