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IONIA, Smyrna. Vespasian Junior. Caesar, AD ?-95/6. Æ (18mm, 2.36 g, 6h). Struck circa AD 94-95. Bareheaded and draped bust right / Nike advancing left, holding wreath and palm frond over shoulder. Klose Class XLII; RPC I 1029; BMC 317. Black patina, off center reverse. VF. Exceptional portrait. Very rare.
From the S & S Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group inventory 723804 (December 2000); Sternberg XXXV (28 October 2000), lot 493; Aufhäuser 8 (9 October 1991), lot 387.
Vespasian the Younger, son of Domitian's niece Flavia Domitilla III and cousin Flavius Clemens, was briefly heir to the throne along with his brother Domitian the Younger until their parents fell victim to Domitian's reign of terror. Having no surviving offspring himself, Domitian adopted the two youth in AD 94 and singled their natural father Clemens out for high honor by awarding him the consulship in AD 95. Before the year was out, however, Domitian had turned on his relations, charging Clemens and Domitilla with "atheism." Clemens was executed and his wife exiled. The later church historian Eusebius claims Clemens as an early Christian martyr; for some reason, modern historians have cast doubt on this, viewing it as more likely the couple were converts to Judaism. However, this seems strange on the face of it; Judaism has never actively proselytized people outside the faith, particularly Roman aristocrats, whereas Christianity made a special effort to do just that. Also, "atheism" smacks strongly of the later anti-Christian persecutians of Decius, Valerian, and Diocletian, which charged Christians with disbelieving in any gods. The fates of the younger Vespasian and his brother are unknown. Smyrna was the only city to strike coins in honor of the ephemeral heir; these small bronzes remain very rare today.
From the S & S Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group inventory 723804 (December 2000); Sternberg XXXV (28 October 2000), lot 493; Aufhäuser 8 (9 October 1991), lot 387.
Vespasian the Younger, son of Domitian's niece Flavia Domitilla III and cousin Flavius Clemens, was briefly heir to the throne along with his brother Domitian the Younger until their parents fell victim to Domitian's reign of terror. Having no surviving offspring himself, Domitian adopted the two youth in AD 94 and singled their natural father Clemens out for high honor by awarding him the consulship in AD 95. Before the year was out, however, Domitian had turned on his relations, charging Clemens and Domitilla with "atheism." Clemens was executed and his wife exiled. The later church historian Eusebius claims Clemens as an early Christian martyr; for some reason, modern historians have cast doubt on this, viewing it as more likely the couple were converts to Judaism. However, this seems strange on the face of it; Judaism has never actively proselytized people outside the faith, particularly Roman aristocrats, whereas Christianity made a special effort to do just that. Also, "atheism" smacks strongly of the later anti-Christian persecutians of Decius, Valerian, and Diocletian, which charged Christians with disbelieving in any gods. The fates of the younger Vespasian and his brother are unknown. Smyrna was the only city to strike coins in honor of the ephemeral heir; these small bronzes remain very rare today.