|
RIC 1331 Vespasian
|
Æ As, 9.52g
Tarraco (?) mint, 70 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M TR P; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: S C in field; IMP V P P COS II DESIG III FORT RED; Fortuna, draped, standing l.,setting r. hand on prow and holding cornucopiae in l. hand
RIC 1337 (R). BMC spec. acquired 1989. BNC -.
Acquired from eBay, June 2022.
Spain declared for Vespasian late in 69 after the second battle of Cremona in October. Spanish mints immediately began striking coinage in all metals for Vespasian, with perhaps Tarraco being the primary mint of the province. The early aes coinage copied many of the reverse designs seen on the precious metals at Rome, as is the case with this Fortuna type. All the coins from the issue are quite rare indicating they were not struck for any length of time, perhaps only to address a shortage of bronze coinage in the region. This as additionally has an unusual and extremely rare variant reverse legend. Missing from the Paris collection.
|
|