133
3131
Vespasian. Silver Denarius (3.09 g), AD 69-79.
Rome, AD 76. IMP CAESAR VES-
PASIANVS AVG, laureate head of Vespasian right.
Reverse:
COS VII, eagle standing
facing on garlanded cippus, head left. RIC 847; BMC 180; RSC 121. Boldly struck
in high relief on a large flan and perfectly centered. The surfaces are lustrous and
delicately toned.
Nearly Mint State.
The principate of Vespasian brought much needed stability to the Empire after
Nero’s reign and the subsequent civil wars of AD 68-69. Vespasian settled distur-
bances in Judaea and in Britain, as well as smaller uprisings in Cyprus and Egypt.
He rebuilt much of Rome, still largely ruined from the devastating fire that swept the
city in AD 64, and he extended the citizenship of the Empire. The reverse of this coin
is a stock type which alludes to this Flavian peace and prosperity, and perhaps
implies the hand of Jupiter Optimus Maximus (Jupiter, Best and Greatest) to whom
Vespasian had paid particular attention, re-consecrating his temple in AD 70.
Estimated Value .....................................................................................$2,000 - 2,500
3132
Vespasian. Silver Denarius (3.43 g), AD 69-79.
Rome, AD 76. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS
AVG, laureate head of Vespasian right.
Reverse:
IOVIS CVSTOS, Jupiter standing facing, hold-
ing patera and scepter; at his feet to left, altar. RIC
849; BMC 276; RSC 222. Well struck and perfectly
centered.
Extremely Fine.
Jupiter Custos, or Jupiter Conservator, is hon-
ored on this coin because he was thought to
have protected Domitian when the Vitellians
stormed the capitol in AD 69. Vespasian dedi-
cated an altar of marble to the god, the sides
of which were engraved with a scene repre-
senting the rescue. Once Domitian became
emperor, he erected a large temple to Jupiter
Custos, which may have incorporated the altar.
Estimated Value............................ $1,000 - 1,300
Ex CNG 61 (25 September 2002), 1684.
