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1215
Vespasian. Silver Denarius (3.34 g), AD 69-79. Rome, AD 77/8. CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate
head of Vespasian right. Rev. IMP XIX across field, modius with seven ears of grain. (RIC 980; BMC 216;
RSC 216). Beautiful old iridescent cabinet toning, excellent portrait. Superb extremely fine.
$ 950
In AD 77, an unspecified plague reported in the chronography of St. Jerome is said to have struck down some 10,000 people in
Rome. It has been suggested that this disastrous event might have been associated with a famine that resulted in work to secure the
grain supply for the city. The supposed famine would explain the sudden and unexpected spike in coin types related to the grain
supply in the late years of Vespasian’s reign which also continued into that of his son, Titus.
1216
Vespasian, AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (26.58g). Struck AD 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P
P COS III, laureate head facing right. Rev. IVDAEA CAPTA, palm-tree, Vespasian on left, standing right,
holding a spear and a parazonium, his left foot resting on a helmet, Judaea on right, seated to right, S C in
exergue (RIC 167; BMC 543; C 239; RCV 2327). Some very light smoothing in fields, attractive green-brown
patina. Extremely fine.
$ 3,500
ex Spink Numismatic Circular, (April 2007, vol CXV, no.2), item RM3404 (illustrated on the front cover).