David Atherton

When dealers let ethics take a backseat to profit, the anti-collecting lobby wins. They're literally digging their own graves.

Roma didn't help matters with the false provenances and looted material. Talk about shooting oneself in the foot!

Admittedly, not the most exciting reverse, but a rare variety nonetheless. Perhaps the emerald green patina and stylish portrait redeems it for non-specialists. Titus as Caesar [Vespasian] Æ As, 9.63g Rome mint, 74 AD Obv: T CAESAR IMP COS III CENS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: PAX AVGVST; S C in field; Pax stg. l., leaning on column, with caduceus and branch RIC 747 (R). BMC 708. BNC -. Acquired from Roman Coin Shop, March 2024. Pax in her various guises was a major theme for Vespasian's coinage throughout much of the reign. The Pax leaning on a column type is likely based on a cult image, while the legend 'PAX AVGVST' advertises the emperor as peacemaker. This is a rare variety of the type struck in 74 for Titus Caesar. Missing from the Paris collection. Obverse die match with the BM specimen cited in RIC. In hand. Thank you for looking!

Wow. That is a great coin.

Vespasian struck a dynastic confronting heads type featuring Titus and Domitian at several different mints. This is probably my favourite variety. Frequency rating unique in RIC. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.16g Ephesus mint, 69-70 AD Obv: IMP•CAES VESPAS•AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: LIBERI IMP AVG VESPAS; Heads of Titus, bare, r., and Domitian, bare, l., confronting; Φ in r. field RIC 1402 (R3). BMC-. RSC-. RPC 810 (0 Spec.). BNC-. Acquired from Kölner, February 2020.

My latest addition is a Rome mint sestertius from 71 featuring the corona civica on the reverse - a most devilishly hard variety to come by! I already have two examples from Lugdunum (and they aren't exactly common either!), but could never seem to find one from Rome ... until now! Vespasian Æ Sestertius, 24.74g Rome mint, 71 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG P M TR P P P COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: S P Q R / OB / CIVES / SERVATOS within oak wreath RIC 254 (R2). BMC 573. BNC 551. Acquired from Petasos Coins, March 2024. In the great bronze issue of 71 a sestertius reverse type was struck at both Rome and Lugdunum which commemorates the Senate awarding the corona civica to Vespasian. The wreath was awarded to Vespasian by the Senate for rescuing the Roman people from civil war and bringing about peace. The legend within the wreath - S P Q R / OB CIVES / SERVATOS translates as: 'The Senate and the Roman People / For Having Saved the Citizens'. This rare Rome mint specimen commemorating the award was struck during the third sestertius issue of 71. Purchased from a European dealer, it appears to be from an old collection. The corona civica was originally a military honour bestowed upon a Roman who had saved a fellow citizen's life in battle. It was one of the greatest public honours. In the imperial era the honour developed from a coveted military decoration into an imperial emblem granted by the Senate to the emperor. The wreath was made of oak leaves and is sometimes called a corona quercea after the common name for the oak. Artistically it is sometimes depicted with acorns scattered amongst the leaves. Plutarch believed the oak was chosen for this highest of honours for several reasons. The tree was easily found throughout the countryside and was quite convenient for fashioning a wreath when the need arose. Also, the oak is sacred to Jupiter and Juno and thus was an appropriate symbolic honour given to one who has saved the life of a fellow Roman citizen, or indeed the state. Finally, the early settlers of Rome, the Arcadians, were nicknamed 'acorn-eaters' in an oracle of Apollo. In hand. Thank you for looking/watching!

Thanks! In the recent Ancient Coin Podcast on YouTube Aaron Berk discusses the reasons why dealers are moving to videos... pretty much why I did as well!

Update! This type has now been added to the RIC.1 Addenda & Corrigenda as 60A under Titus, second recorded specimen.

Common coins give a collection scope, rarities give it depth. My latest is a fine example of the latter. Domitian as Caesar [Titus] Æ Sestertius, 25.95g Rome mint, 79 AD Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: S C in field; Spes stg. l., with flower Cf. RIC 58-60/511 (for obv./rev.). BMC -. BNC -. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 119. Ex Curtis Clay Collection. Ex CNG E281, 20 June 2012, lot 305. All the sestertii struck under Titus in 79 are rare. This unique and unlisted Spes variety struck for Domitian Caesar is from his first bronze issue of the reign (a carry-over type from Vespasian's coinage). It's an obverse die matched with the issue's Pax (RIC 59) and Mars (RIC 60) types, all of which are contemporaneous reverses struck for Titus. Curtis Clay has proposed this small issue of Domitian Caesar sestertii are consistent with the Thracian mint's style and fabric (convex reverses) and likely belong to that mint's first output under Titus. In hand. Thanks for looking!

IMHO, Domitian's denarii fine style high-watermark falls in the 84-88 period. His bronzes were hit and miss throughout the reign.

It makes you wonder if their talent was recognised in antiquity?

The engraver of the piece did similar work under Titus. Acquiring coins with their handiwork is quite satisfying!

Domitian's early coinage, especially the bronze, at times can showcase some extraordinary examples of Flavian portraiture. That is the case with my latest addition, an extremely rare accession type with a knock-out portrait! The reverse is rendered in fine style as well. To date, it's my favourite coin of 2024. Domitian Æ Sestertius, 19.98g Rome mint, 81 AD Obv: IMP CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN AVG P M; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: TR P COS VII DES VIII P P; S C in field; Domitian stg. l., togate, with palladium RIC 80 (C). BMC 265. BNC 278. Acquired from Jetons Canada, eBay, April 2024. Ex Paris dealer, February 2024. Struck fleetingly during Domitian's first meagre bronze issue, this unique reverse features Domitian as Emperor standing togate holding the palladium of Pallas Athena. Considered an accession type, it was never struck again and has the distinction of being the first original Domitianic design employed on his coinage. Mattingly in BMCRE says of the new type - 'Domitian holding the palladium is the Emperor entrusted with the destinies of Rome.' Rarely noted in the catalogues is the scroll Domitian is holding with his left hand, symbolising his authority. RIC's frequency rating is 'common', but only two other examples are listed on asearch in trade during the past 20 years and just four examples cited in OCRE. Same dies as the BM and Paris specimens. A superb example of early Domitianic portraiture. In hand. The two specimens I located in trade were ex CNG and CGB. If anyone knows of other examples please share! As always, thank you for looking!

The video shows the coin as it really is 'in hand' and those 'green' spots are not present. Apologies, I should have adjusted the photo's colour more accurately.

Normally, I don't purchase uncleaned coins, but one that's decently rare is hard to resist. Vespasian Æ As, 11.99g Rome mint, 75 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS VI; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: AEQVITAS AVGVST; S C in field; Aequitas stg. l., with scales and rod RIC 821 (R). BMC -. BNC 739. Ex Savoca Blue 202, 23 March 2024, lot 375. Vespasian's bronze coinage output in 75 was very meagre. Even this common Aequitas type is considered rare in RIC. Obverse die match with the Oxford and Paris specimens. In hand. Any advice on cleaning it is most welcomed! Thanks for looking!

Beautiful denarius! They don't come much better than that!

My latest coin features a Vespasian reverse type you don't often see in trade. An early military themed reverse that became less needed as Vespasian's secure control on the empire was firmly established later in the reign. Vespasian Æ As, 8.82g Rome mint, 71 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: S C in field; Aquila between two standards, all on prows RIC 320 (R). BMC 613. BNC 591. Acquired from CGB, March 2024. The aquila between two standards type was struck early in Vespasian's reign to honour the loyalty of the legions. The aquila, which featured an eagle clutching a thunderbolt, was the most important standard of any legion. With the recent successful completion of the Civil War and Jewish rebellion, the immense value of the legion's support is not lost on Vespasian! The type was later revived under Titus and Domitian for their cistophori. In hand. As always, thank you for looking!

In honour of the Great American Eclipse happening in just a few hours, I thought it would be appropriate to post a somewhat relevant coin. Pliny the Elder in his Natural Histories tells of an eclipse occurring in 71 during Vespasian reign... 'The eclipse of both sun and moon within 15 days of each other has occurred even in our time, in the year of the third consulship of the elder Emperor Vespasian and the second consulship of the younger.' This was a partial solar eclipse on 20 March 71 AD. And here is a coin likely struck within a few weeks of the event. It depicts Fortuna the goddess of luck on the reverse, with the cloud cover over the NE US and Canada I think she is quite appropriate! Vespasian Æ Sestertius, 26.66g Rome mint, 71 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: FORTVNAE REDVCI; S C in exergue; Fortuna stg. l., with branch and rudder on globe, and cornucopiae RIC 157 (C). BMC 756. BNC 482. Acquired from CGB, March 2023. I'll be heading up to my parents about an hour north of me in the path of totality in northern OH. Hopefully the clouds will break or thin enough at eclipse time! Feel free to post any relevant coins!

I really like the stylish portrait of Titus Caesar on this rare as struck in 77-78 AD. Although the bronze coinage output dwindled as Vespasian's reign rolled along, the coins themselves became more refined and, dare I say, more 'Flavian' than those of previous issues. The peaks and valleys of the early years was gone, replaced by refined craftsmanship. I think this as is a splendid example of such. Titus as Caesar [Vespasian] Æ As, 10.74g Rome mint, 77-78 AD Obv: T CAESAR VESPASIANVS TR P COS VI; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: S C in field; Spes stg. l., with flower RIC 1031 (R). BMC -. BNC 784. Acquired from CGB, March 2024. Spes, the goddess of hope, is seen here as an 'heir apparent' type. She is represented on Roman coins as a young girl, reminiscent of earlier Greek cult statues depicting Elpis. H. Mattingly in BMCRE II says 'the flower held by Spes is an opening bud, she is raising her skirt in order to hasten forward'. Spes occurs quite commonly under Vespasian and is frequently paired up with all three Flavians as a hopeful expression of future dynastic success. This variety struck for Titus Caesar in 77-78 is quite scarce and is much more common from the Lugdunum mint. Missing from the BM. In hand. Thanks for looking!

Honestly, the only thing I like about VaultBox are the unboxing videos. Vicarious gambling.

That has a stylish portrait. Very nice!

It doesn't get much better than this! A rare variety with questionable denomination status, combined with an engraver's error cited in RIC. A coin seemingly tailor made for a specialist! Domitian as Caesar [Titus] Engraver's Error Æ As?, 11.03g Rome mint, 79 AD Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: PAX AVGST (sic); S C in field; Pax stg. l., leaning on column, with caduceus and branch RIC 85 (R2, note p. 204, this coin). BMC 747 (Vesp.). BNC -. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 82. Ex Curtis Clay Collection. Ex Roman Lode VAuction, 2004. Titus' first issue of bronze coinage in 79 was quite meager, all are fairly rare today. This first issue Domitian as Caesar bronze is either a dupondius or as - the weight suggests the former, the colour of the metal (copperish) the latter. RIC catalogues this issue under Titus, though it is possible it was struck prior to Vespasian's death in June. The reverse legend features an engraver's error - AVGST instead of AVGVST, cited in RIC. In hand. Thank you for looking!

Congrats on the new rarity! Sometimes it all just works out...

Thank you! I believe the RIC authors were referencing a photo file or a plaster cast the Dutch Royal Cabinet had of the coin. That would explain how it was sold in 1971 in a private auction, yet was cited by RIC in The Hague collection in 2007.

In hand, l see no evidence of tooling, but the reverse fields do have old cleaning marks. Perhaps this is what they are referring too? The deposits on the devices and in the fields tell me this piece is fairly unaltered.