RIC 0276 Vespasian

Æ Dupondius, 13.34g
Rome mint, 71 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III; Head of Vespasian, radiate, r.
Rev: PAXS AVGVSTI; S C in field; Pax stg. l., with cornucopiae, setting fire to arms
RIC 276 (R2). BMC 590 corr. (PAXS). BNC -.
Acquired from Canadian Coin Currency, June 2020.

An extremely rare dupondius struck during Vespasian's great bronze issue of 71 featuring Pax setting fire to a pile of (Jewish) arms. It is so rare that only one die pair has been recorded for this Pax type on the dupondius. It is more frequently seen on the sestertius, and even then rarely so. The unusual reverse legend featuring the odd spelling of 'PAXS' is also only encountered here. An RIC footnote mentions that on some specimens the 'S' is obliterated (as on the BM example), however, this coin clearly shows it. This highly symbolic reverse, possibly based on a composition from the Augustan period, first appeared on the coinage of Galba and was later adopted by Vespasian.