Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 487 10 Mar 2021
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Vespasian. AD 69-79. AR Denarius (16.5mm, 2.94 g, 5h). "Judaea Capta" commemorative. Antioch mint. Struck AD 72-73. Laureate head right / Palm tree; to left, Vespasian standing right, holding spear and parazonium, foot on helmet; to right, Judaea, in attitude of mourning, seated right. RIC II.1 1558; Hendin 1490 corr. (obv. legend); RPC II 1930; RSC 645. Toned, porosity on obverse. Good VF. High-relief portrait. Amazing detail on reverse.
From the Lampasas Collection.
The Roman Empire used coins to convey powerful messages. The anepigraphic reverse on this coin depicts Judaea in captivity. "So fell Jerusalem in the second year of Vespasian's reign, on the 8th September, captured five times before and now for the second time laid utterly waste.... There was no one left for the soldiers to kill or plunder" (Josephus, The Jewish War, 21, 22). "And her gates shall lament and mourn; ravaged, she shall sit upon the ground" (Isaiah 3:26).
From the Lampasas Collection.
The Roman Empire used coins to convey powerful messages. The anepigraphic reverse on this coin depicts Judaea in captivity. "So fell Jerusalem in the second year of Vespasian's reign, on the 8th September, captured five times before and now for the second time laid utterly waste.... There was no one left for the soldiers to kill or plunder" (Josephus, The Jewish War, 21, 22). "And her gates shall lament and mourn; ravaged, she shall sit upon the ground" (Isaiah 3:26).