Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 125 23-24 Jun 2021
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Ephesus. Vespasian augustus, 69 - 79.
Denarius 69-70, AR 3.53 g. IMP CAES – VESPAS AVG Laureate head r. Rev. LIBERI IMP AVG VESPAS Confronted and bare heads of Titus, l. and Domitian, r.; in r. field, Φ. C –. BMC –. RIC 1402. CBN –. RPC 810.
An exceedingly variety, only the second specimen known and by far the finest, with the
mint mark (Φ) in the outer r. field. Three impressive portraits struck on a very broad
flan and a light iridescent tone. Almost invisible metal flaws on reverse field,
otherwise extremely fine
Ex G. Hirsch sale 235, 2004, 2217.
We have already discussed the iconographic significance of Vespasian's dynastic issues showing the confronted busts of his sons, Titus and Domitian, on the reverse and how they derive from a Pompeian model. Here, the interesting feature is the placement of the mint mark (Φ, or perhaps a monogram of ΦI) in the right field of the reverse. RPC 810 encompasses all mint mark placements for this variety, and it can appear in the left or right fields as well as below the busts. RIC does distinguish the varieties (RIC 1401-1403, but reports the letter Φ as placed sideways, which it only is when it appears below the heads of Titus and Domitian). Our coin is only the second known example of the variety with the mint mark in the right field, the other known example having appeared in Münzhandlung Basel 6, 1936, lot 1619, and which has an environmentally damaged reverse showing considerably corrosion on the portraits of Titus and Domitian.
Denarius 69-70, AR 3.53 g. IMP CAES – VESPAS AVG Laureate head r. Rev. LIBERI IMP AVG VESPAS Confronted and bare heads of Titus, l. and Domitian, r.; in r. field, Φ. C –. BMC –. RIC 1402. CBN –. RPC 810.
An exceedingly variety, only the second specimen known and by far the finest, with the
mint mark (Φ) in the outer r. field. Three impressive portraits struck on a very broad
flan and a light iridescent tone. Almost invisible metal flaws on reverse field,
otherwise extremely fine
Ex G. Hirsch sale 235, 2004, 2217.
We have already discussed the iconographic significance of Vespasian's dynastic issues showing the confronted busts of his sons, Titus and Domitian, on the reverse and how they derive from a Pompeian model. Here, the interesting feature is the placement of the mint mark (Φ, or perhaps a monogram of ΦI) in the right field of the reverse. RPC 810 encompasses all mint mark placements for this variety, and it can appear in the left or right fields as well as below the busts. RIC does distinguish the varieties (RIC 1401-1403, but reports the letter Φ as placed sideways, which it only is when it appears below the heads of Titus and Domitian). Our coin is only the second known example of the variety with the mint mark in the right field, the other known example having appeared in Münzhandlung Basel 6, 1936, lot 1619, and which has an environmentally damaged reverse showing considerably corrosion on the portraits of Titus and Domitian.