RIC 1361A Vespasian

AR Denarius, 3.29g
Uncertain mint, 69-71 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: S P Q R / OB C S in two lines within oak wreath
RIC 1361A (R3, this coin cited in the A&C). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -.
Ex NAC 125, 24 June 2021, lot 505. Privately purchased from Klassische Münzen 2008.

Many mints were operating during the civil war of 68/69 in the west and it is sometimes difficult to pin down certain issues to a specific one. A small military issue was struck at an uncertain mint somewhere in the western empire - Mattingly thought perhaps Aquileia. The issue contains some stylistic affinities with the Spanish series, but more importantly, 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. The SPQR wreath reverse type symbolises the corona civica which was awarded to Vespasian by the Senate for rescuing the Roman people from civil war and bringing about peace. It echoes a similar reverse formerly struck for Galba.

Although this unique piece was recently assigned in the RIC Addenda & Corrigenda to uncertain/military mint group 3, stylistically the portrait has much more in common with the denarii of group 4 (heavy brow, upward gaze, crude style) and probably should be reassigned there.