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Home > Members' Coin Collection Galleries > David Atherton > 1. The Reign of Vespasian - Imperial Coins
RIC 1507 Vespasian
Æ20, 3.89g
Ephesus (?) mint, 77-78 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVGVST; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: PON MAX TR P P P COS VIII CENS; S C in field; Victory adv. l., with shield
RIC 1507 (R2). BMC -. BNC -. RPC 1477 (0 spec.).
Ex Numismad Auction 12, 5-6 January 2024, lot 817.

Late in Vespasian's reign a rare series of orichalcum bronze coins were struck in Asia Minor at an unknown mint. Although imperial in appearance, the style, weight system, and metal used all point to a mint other than Rome. Due to their extreme rarity today, they could not have been struck for any great length of time (the date cannot be narrowed down any further than Vespasian's COS VIII, 77-78 AD). The types consist of ones variously copied from either Rome or Lugdunum (such as this Victory type) or local provincial issues. A stylistic similarity with the earlier 'o' mint denarii possibly struck at Ephesus has been noted by both RIC and RPC. The entire issue is very rarely encountered in trade. This particular Victory variety is missing from all the major collections.

My assumption is that a piece like this did not have wide circulation beyond the region of mintage. Orichalcum was not used for such small bronze denominations at Rome and would have been a baffling coin to your average Roman pleb.

RIC 1507 Vespasian

Æ20, 3.89g
Ephesus (?) mint, 77-78 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVGVST; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: PON MAX TR P P P COS VIII CENS; S C in field; Victory adv. l., with shield
RIC 1507 (R2). BMC -. BNC -. RPC 1477 (0 spec.).
Ex Numismad Auction 12, 5-6 January 2024, lot 817.

Late in Vespasian's reign a rare series of orichalcum bronze coins were struck in Asia Minor at an unknown mint. Although imperial in appearance, the style, weight system, and metal used all point to a mint other than Rome. Due to their extreme rarity today, they could not have been struck for any great length of time (the date cannot be narrowed down any further than Vespasian's COS VIII, 77-78 AD). The types consist of ones variously copied from either Rome or Lugdunum (such as this Victory type) or local provincial issues. A stylistic similarity with the earlier 'o' mint denarii possibly struck at Ephesus has been noted by both RIC and RPC. The entire issue is very rarely encountered in trade. This particular Victory variety is missing from all the major collections.

My assumption is that a piece like this did not have wide circulation beyond the region of mintage. Orichalcum was not used for such small bronze denominations at Rome and would have been a baffling coin to your average Roman pleb.

File information
Filename:V1507.jpg
Album name:David Atherton / 1. The Reign of Vespasian - Imperial Coins
Rating (1 votes):55555Show details
Filesize:280 KiB
Date added:Feb 21, 2024
Dimensions:1200 x 530 pixels
Displayed:16 times
URL:https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=186119
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Comment 1 to 4 of 4
Page: 1

Jay GT4   [Feb 21, 2024 at 03:32 AM]
Great rarity.
*Alex   [Feb 21, 2024 at 01:58 PM]
Great coin, and it looks even better in the video.
Justin L1   [Feb 21, 2024 at 02:46 PM]
Cool coin and great write up!
quadrans   [Feb 22, 2024 at 02:46 PM]
Great addition 🤗👍

Comment 1 to 4 of 4
Page: 1

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