Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 125 23-24 Jun 2021
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Ephesus. Vespasian augustus, 69 - 79.
Denarius 71, AR 3.48 g. IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS III TR P P P Laureate bust r. Rev. CONCORDIA AVG Ceres, veiled, seated l. on throne and holding corn ears, poppy and cornucopiae; in exergue, EPHE ligate. C –. BMC 450. RIC 1428. CBN 343. RPC 830.
Perfectly struck and centred on a very broad flan and with a lovely iridescent
tone. Extremely fine / good extremely fine
Ex NAC 29, 2005, 502 and Rauch 85, 2009, 434 sales.
This superb denarius of Vespasian was struck at Ephesus in AD 71 as the war in Judaea was finally being brought to its close. While the stern and martial laureate portrait of Vespasian is outstanding, it's the depiction of the goddess Ceres that truly vitalizes this coin. Here she is seated to the left on an ornate throne, complete with a high back topped by a bow-like headrest, and with low armrests. She is veiled and wears a tiara, is draped in a flowing gown, and holds in her right hand two corn ears and a poppy, and in her left a cornucopiae overflowing with fruits, symbols denoting her role in the prosperity of the Roman Empire. The purpose of its use as a type was to promote the continuity of the Flavian dynasty after Vespasian had designated his two sons, Titus and Domitian, as Caesars, presenting them as his heirs and thus establishing stability after the turbulent period of the Civil War of 68-69. She is paired with the legend CONCORDIA AVG, further implying a harmonious state of affairs within the imperial household, and by extension, the entire Roman Empire. As a type on coinage, Ceres is often featured in conjunction with the goddess Pax, who also makes a prominent appearance on the Ephesian imperial issues of Vespasian (e.g., RPC 833-4, but especially 835). In the exergue is the mint monogram of Ephesus, opened under Vespasian as an imperial mint for unknown reasons, but probably as a counter to the short closing of the mint at Caesarea in Cappadocia due to local unrest.
Denarius 71, AR 3.48 g. IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS III TR P P P Laureate bust r. Rev. CONCORDIA AVG Ceres, veiled, seated l. on throne and holding corn ears, poppy and cornucopiae; in exergue, EPHE ligate. C –. BMC 450. RIC 1428. CBN 343. RPC 830.
Perfectly struck and centred on a very broad flan and with a lovely iridescent
tone. Extremely fine / good extremely fine
Ex NAC 29, 2005, 502 and Rauch 85, 2009, 434 sales.
This superb denarius of Vespasian was struck at Ephesus in AD 71 as the war in Judaea was finally being brought to its close. While the stern and martial laureate portrait of Vespasian is outstanding, it's the depiction of the goddess Ceres that truly vitalizes this coin. Here she is seated to the left on an ornate throne, complete with a high back topped by a bow-like headrest, and with low armrests. She is veiled and wears a tiara, is draped in a flowing gown, and holds in her right hand two corn ears and a poppy, and in her left a cornucopiae overflowing with fruits, symbols denoting her role in the prosperity of the Roman Empire. The purpose of its use as a type was to promote the continuity of the Flavian dynasty after Vespasian had designated his two sons, Titus and Domitian, as Caesars, presenting them as his heirs and thus establishing stability after the turbulent period of the Civil War of 68-69. She is paired with the legend CONCORDIA AVG, further implying a harmonious state of affairs within the imperial household, and by extension, the entire Roman Empire. As a type on coinage, Ceres is often featured in conjunction with the goddess Pax, who also makes a prominent appearance on the Ephesian imperial issues of Vespasian (e.g., RPC 833-4, but especially 835). In the exergue is the mint monogram of Ephesus, opened under Vespasian as an imperial mint for unknown reasons, but probably as a counter to the short closing of the mint at Caesarea in Cappadocia due to local unrest.