David Atherton

That's exactly how I think the designs came about most of the time. Although, Domitian's coinage does show an emperor more engaged with numismatic matters than most! I think it varied from reign to reign.

Working on it! Lol

Sometimes things come together to make a coin interesting on multiple levels. Happily, my latest has a few things going for it: rarity, style, and provenance. What more could you ask for? Vespasian Æ Sestertius, 25.44g Rome mint, 71 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M T P P P COS III; Bust of Vespasian, laureate, draped, l. Rev: S C in field; Mars adv. r., with trophy and spear RIC 115 (R2). BMC -. BNC 541. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 8. EX Curtis Clay Collection. Acquired from Olding, MA Shops, March 2019 = Olding List 96, March 2019, Sammlung Fritz Reusing, no. 139. From the collection of Fritz Reusing (1874-1956), acquired from the Heynen Collection; inherited and continued by Reusing's nephew Paul Schürer (1890-1976). A fantastically rare variety from Vespasian's first issue of 71 featuring an obverse left facing draped bust. RIC describes many of the sestertii from this issue as 'monumental', likely owing to the fine style, large flans, and ornate busts. Missing from the BM. This particular specimen has the added honour of a distinguished old pedigree from the Fritz Reusing Collection. Reusing was a German portrait painter of the early 20th Century whose portraits included Richard Strauss, Igor Strawinsky, Max Planck, and Albert Einstein. I would like to think large imperial bronzes such as this one gave him inspiration. After Reusing's death his nephew Paul Schürer inherited and curated the collection. In hand. I'm curious to see your coins with neat provenances. Please share! As always, thank you for looking!

Beautiful coins and magnificent presentation. Well done!

It is indeed true Nero's mint produced a vast quantity of Victory bronzes, although the most common one has a slightly different design. This Vespasian dupondius is probably a direct descendent of that Neronian prototype. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=155849

My latest addition: I came for the rarity ... but stayed for the portrait. The provenance didn't hurt either. Titus Æ Sestertius, 24.84g Rome mint, 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, l. Rev: VICTORIA AVGVST; S C in field; Victory adv. l., with wreath and palm RIC 183 (R2). BMC p. 261 ||. BNC 188. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 106. Ex Curtis Clay collection. Ex CNG 50, 23 June 1999, lot 86. Ex Cornelius C. Vermeule Collection. Ex Glendining & Co. The V.J.E. Ryan Collection part V, 2 April 1952, lot 2391 (part). An extremely rare sestertius struck in 80 or 81 during Titus' great bronze issue. This is the first appearance of this Victory type on the coinage since earlier in Vespasian's reign. Could the occasion of the opening games of the Colosseum possibly have inspired the mint engravers to bring this reverse out of retirement? A dedicatory inscription on the new amphitheatre declared it had been funded from 'the spoils of war' and Victory featured prominently in its decorative scheme. Notably missing from the BM. In hand: As always, thank you for looking!

Can't argue with your #1 pick, but all of them are deserving ... not to mention the runners up! Congrats on a wonderful coin year!

I think more likely this type refers to the pulvinar of Neptune, undoubtedly one of the gods honoured at the opening games.

Super coin and excellent write-up! The left facing portrait variety is rarer than the standard right facing one. Here's mine, ex Sneh Collection: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=48413

As a specialist it is a great pleasure to acquire unlisted types and varieties - no matter their condition! My latest is a somewhat rough looking Securitas variant that is currently missing from RIC. Titus Æ As, 9.35g Rome mint, 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: SECVRITAS AVGVST; S C in exergue; Securitas std. l., with sceptre; to l., altar RIC 245 var. (head left). BMC -. BNC -. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 112. Ex Roman-num, eBay, 21 June 2009. An unlisted variant of this extremely rare type for Titus, struck in 80-81 during his great bronze issue. RIC cites one specimen with head left (RIC 245), mine features the less common and unlisted head right. Astonishingly, a second head right example was listed in the same HJB sale from the Clay collection (lot 111), so a frequency rating of R2. The RIC II.1 Addenda questions whether this type actually reads SECVRIT or SECVRITAS. Both specimens in the HJB sale clearly show SECVRITAS. In hand The Securitas type was likely issued as numismatic 'comfort food' for the Roman public, a reassurance of the continued status quo from Vespasian's reign. As always, thank you for looking!

Engaging with history is a way we can reflect on and debate our own culture and society. The question of gender identity in 3rd century Rome (anachronistic as it is) is a perfect example of such. The questions it raises of course cannot be definitively answered at this remote date, but the discussion should be fruitful and worthwhile. Don't let anyone tell you the study of history is unimportant or worthless. It tells us as much about ourselves as it does the past.

I love the ANS Longtable videos! Most of which I find very engaging, especially those covering areas I'm unfamiliar with.

@maridvnvm @ACCLA-Mike 'Kimpel' it is! @DonnaML I believe you are correct, the numeral in question looks like a '1' comparing it to the date '81' written on the frontside of the ticket (and as you pointed out 7 would most likely have a line through it). Also, the date format must be an abbreviated European one for 9 December 1961, which corresponds with Kimpel sale number 2 on the helpful list provided above. Thank you all for helping to solve the riddle!

My latest addition is a type struck for Titus that one rarely sees in trade. I'm willing to forgive the so-so condition. Additionally, the ticket that came with the piece presents a little provenance mystery. Titus Æ As, 10.52g Rome mint, 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: FIDES PVBLICA; S C below; Hands clasped over caduceus and corn ears RIC 224 (R2). BMC -. BNC 214. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 109. Ex Curtis Clay Collection. Ex Dionysos, eBay, 17 April 2016. Ex 'Dr. Kimpel, 9/12/61'. This as from 80-81 advertises the emperor's careful stewardship of Rome's corn-supply and finances. An exceedingly rare type for Titus as Augustus. Missing from the BM collection. In hand. The old 1960s ticket that came with the piece presents a minor puzzle. Presumably from an old German collection, but I cannot quite make out the name of the collector. I see 'Dr. Kimpel', but Curtis wrote 'Dr. Kimrel' on his own ticket. Is anyone familiar with this provenance? Thanks for looking!

We can relate.

Marsyas Mike, Tuesday at 11:43 AMReport #3+ QuoteReply A remarkable rarity in any condition!

Yes, it has happened to me as well. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=156618 https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=177977 It taught me to always consult my database or Forvm gallery. Other 'duplicates' I have were acquired for minor variations or whatnot.

Another great interview! And I was tickled to see we both share a book!

Can't go wrong with Mary Beard!

And here is the breakfast menu!

I must say, @JayAg47 @Limes @ambr0zie I'm very heartened to see so many Flavians make the cut!

Thank you for posting your Top 3! I think you already know that the recent acquisition of your #1 helped inspire me to go after mine. The other two coins that round out your Top 3 are fantastic as well!

In light of the fact that it may be difficult to choose just one (which is totally understandable!), I've slightly changed the title of the thread.

Recently I had the opportunity to acquire my ultimate dream coin, and it has now become my favourite piece in the collection. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=184767 I was tickled when the HJB BBS 225 catalogue arrived last week featuring it on the cover! Previously, this extremely rare Vespasian denarius acquired in 2016 was my favourite: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=127698 It is now #2. All this has made me curious to know what other collectors regard as their favourite coins. Please post your favourites! I would love to see them!

An as yet unidentified Asia Minor mint struck a small issue of bronze coins under Vespasian in 77-78 AD. Various theories abound about its location. All of the coins from the series are quite scarce, with new varieties surfacing from time to time (so, we really don't have a full picture yet). My latest addition is from this 'mystery mint'. It may not win any beauty contests, but I love this kind of coin! Titus as Caesar [Vespasian] Æ25.5, 8.02g Ephesus (?) mint, 77-78 AD Obv: T CAESAR IMPER PONT; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: TR POT COS VI CENSOR; S C in field; Mars adv. l., with spear and shield RIC 1513 (R2). BMC -. BNC -. RPC 1482 (1 spec.). Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 95. Ex Curtis Clay Collection. Ex Ritter List 46, August 1996, no. 654. Late in Vespasian's reign a rare series of orichalcum bronze coins were struck in Asia Minor at an unknown mint. Although imperial in appearance, the style, weight system, and metal used all point to a mint other than Rome. Due to their extreme rarity today, they could not have been struck for any great length of time (the date cannot be narrowed down any further than Vespasian's COS VIII, 77-78 AD). The types consist of ones variously copied from either Rome or local provincial issues. A stylistic similarity with the earlier 'o' mint denarii possibly struck at Ephesus has been noted by both RIC and RPC. Admittedly, the link to the infamous 'o' mint is tenuous at best*, but it is the most sound theory proposed so far (M. Grant, 'Asses of Orichalcum', Centennial Publication of the American Numismatic Study, pp. 285-302). Further, metal analyses by Carradice and Cowell ('The minting of Roman Imperial Bronze Coins for Circulation in the East: Vespasian to Trajan', NC 147, pp. 26-50) strongly supports an Asia Minor origin for the issue. Only one specimen of this Mars type is cited by both RIC and RPC from Oxford. Missing from the BM and Paris collections. *One objection to this link is the fact the 'o' mint series is riddled with mules and mixed up titles, something we don't see with the bronze issue. In hand. As always, thank you for looking!