2017-07-12 Wed

Munthandel G. Henzen, a Dutch coin dealer, is currently offering a rare gold aureus from early in the reign of Roman emperor Vespasian.

The coin was minted in Antioch on the Orontes, an important Roman city in the province of Syria. The coin was struck around 70CE and the main reason was to supply the coins to Roman soldiers who were a part of the First Jewish War of 66-73. The duty to suppress the Jewish nationalists was assigned to future Emperor Vespasian. His son Titus, who was also the future emperor, served as second in command. After the suicide of Emperor Nero, Rome was forced into a civil war and political instability. Vespasian was eventually proclaimed emperor and left for Rome, leaving Titus in charge, where he famously sacked Jerusalem in 70 CE.

The gold aureus offered here was issued in that same year.

The obverse features a middle-aged Vespasian wearing a laurel wreath symbolising victory. Other inscriptions include IMP • CAES • VESPASIANVS • AVG, which stands for Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus. Beads or dots can be seen in the upper left quadrant.

The reverse depicts the civic crown or corona civica, a wreath of oak leaves that was traditionally given to a Roman citizen who saved the life of another Roman in combat. However, it was co-opted as a ceremonial honour by the Roman emperors. The middle of the coin was left empty but it was surrounded by the initials SPQR OB • CS (Senatus Populusque Romanus Ob Cives Servatos, which means "By the Senate and the people of Rome for saving the citizens").

This coin's pedigree goes back to the Biaggi Collection of Gold Roman Coins built by Leo Biaggi de Blasys. Despite some scratches, primarily on the reverse with its swath of vulnerable empty space, the strike is exceptionally sharp for an almost 2,000-year-old gold coin produced by a provincial mint during wartime.