Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 349 22 April 2015
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Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (31mm, 25.00 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 74. Laureate head right / Pax standing left, holding olive branch and cornucopia. RIC II 712 = BMCRE, p. 159, † = BN 710 = Cohen 314 (same obv. die); Künker 89, lot 2137 = Friedrich Collection (NAC, 2 April 1995), lot 1111 (same dies). VF, green and red patina. Extremely rare, the third or fourth known specimen. Among the finest, and better than the BN specimen illustrated in RIC.
The PAX AVGVST theme of the reverse was particularly pointed for Vespasian. Vespasian deliberately likened himself to Augustus, and in his manner cleared an area near the Forum of Augustus to construct his own forum. Within it was a temple dedicated to Pax, Peace. The theme of Peace had been Augustan too, and Vespasian was qualified to embrace it and to label it not simply Pax but Pax Augusta, not just Peace in general but the peace generated by and guaranteed by the emperor. And so it was, since Vespasian put an end to both internal war (the Civil War of 68-79) and foreign war (Judaea). There were to be troubles on the frontiers, but within the Empire that peace would last for over a century.
The PAX AVGVST theme of the reverse was particularly pointed for Vespasian. Vespasian deliberately likened himself to Augustus, and in his manner cleared an area near the Forum of Augustus to construct his own forum. Within it was a temple dedicated to Pax, Peace. The theme of Peace had been Augustan too, and Vespasian was qualified to embrace it and to label it not simply Pax but Pax Augusta, not just Peace in general but the peace generated by and guaranteed by the emperor. And so it was, since Vespasian put an end to both internal war (the Civil War of 68-79) and foreign war (Judaea). There were to be troubles on the frontiers, but within the Empire that peace would last for over a century.