Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 2 27 March 2017
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Ancient Coins, Vespasian (69-79 AD), aureus, IMP CAESAR VESP AVG, laur. head. r., rev. FORTVNA AVGVST, Fortuna stg. l. on a base decorated with rams' heads and wreaths, holding a rudder in her right and cornucopiae in her left hand, wt. 7.35gms. (RIC.81), extremely fine
Vespasian was the first emperor that did not belong to the old Roman aristocracy. Instead, he came from a provincial middle-class family. He had a successful military career, which included commanding a legion during the Roman invasion of Britain in AD43. He emerged as an emperor after the civil war that followed the death of Nero in AD68. Appropriately the reverse of this coin depicts FORTVNA AVGVST(I) - 'The Luck of the Emperor'. (5500 - 6000 GBP)
Vespasian was the first emperor that did not belong to the old Roman aristocracy. Instead, he came from a provincial middle-class family. He had a successful military career, which included commanding a legion during the Roman invasion of Britain in AD43. He emerged as an emperor after the civil war that followed the death of Nero in AD68. Appropriately the reverse of this coin depicts FORTVNA AVGVST(I) - 'The Luck of the Emperor'. (5500 - 6000 GBP)