RIC 0890 Vespasian

Æ As, 9.63g
Rome mint, 76 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS VII; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: AEQVITAS AVGVST; S C in field; Aequitas stg. l., with scales and rod
RIC 890 (C). BMC -. BNC 755.
Acquired from CGB.fr, August 2020.

Vespasian inherited a financial mess upon his accession in 69. His top priority was putting the state on a sound financial footing. Symbolic of that righting of the empire was the common reverse type of Aequitas. Aequitas holding her scales and measuring rod was probably based on a cult image of the deity. She first shows up as an imperial virtue on the coinage under Galba - a virtue that Vespasian was eager to emulate. This particular COS VII example struck in 76 at Rome is considered by RIC (p. 51) to be one of the most common bronze coins struck for Vespasian. Oddly enough, no examples are in the BM's extensive collection!

Dark brown patina and good style.