Don't Fall for the Hype!

[David Atherton]

Believe it or not, not every Flavian coin is a 'Judaea Capta' type. Unfortunately, the following reverse type is often seen in trade erroneously labelled as such.

 

 

Domitian as Caesar [Vespasian]

Æ As, 10.22g
Rome mint, 77-78 AD
Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS V; Head of Domitian, laureate, r.
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVST; S C in field; Victory stg. r. on prow, with wreath and palm
RIC 1056 (C). BMC -. BNC 793.
Acquired from Roman Coin Shop, November 2022.

The perennial favourite reverse of Victory on prow, commonly found on the issues throughout much of Vespasian's reign for all three Flavians. Unlike the VICTORIA NAVALIS variant which in all likelihood celebrated a minor naval victory from the Jewish War, this Victory can be viewed in more generic terms. It was normally struck without an overt connection to any conflict and was probably based on a familiar cult image. A similar type was also struck in silver on the denarii the previous year. This Domitian Caesar variety is considered 'common' in RIC, but is missing from the BM.

 

As always, thanks for looking!

Edited December 5, 2022 by David Atherton

[Qcumbor]

Cool coin David. And here's its sister coin for Titus, that you have already seen many times I guess :

Titus as ceasar, As - Rome mint, 77 CE
T CAES IMP AVG F TR P COS VI CENSOR, Laureate head of Titus right
VICTORIA NAVALIS, Victory standing right, on a prow of galley. S C in field
10.14 gr
Ref : Cohen #390, RCV #2485 var

 

Q

[David Atherton]

1 minute ago, Qcumbor said:

Cool coin David. And here's its sister coin for Titus, that you have already seen many times I guess :

Titus as ceasar, As - Rome mint, 77 CE
T CAES IMP AVG F TR P COS VI CENSOR, Laureate head of Titus right
VICTORIA NAVALIS, Victory standing right, on a prow of galley. S C in field
10.14 gr
Ref : Cohen #390, RCV #2485 var

 

Q

I think a stronger argument can be made for this NAVALIS variant's connection to the Jewish War!

Thank you for posting it.

[Prieure de Sion]

Quote

Don't Fall for the Hype!

 

😄

Edited December 5, 2022 by Prieure de Sion

[Marsyas Mike]

Aw, I wanted these to be the "poor man's Judaea Capta"...here's a pimply as of Vespasian (I've since treated the BD; it seems to be stable now):

Vespasian Æ As (76 A.D.) Rome Mint  IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS VII, laureate head right / VICTORIA - AVGVST S-C, Victory standing right on prow holding wreath and palm. RIC II 897 (ex-RIC I 584). (11.44 grams / 25 mm) eBay May 2020 Lot @ $7.50

Here's a worn Vespasian denarius, no prow:

Vespasian  Denarius (72-73 A.D.) Rome Mint IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII, laureate head right / VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Victory advancing right with palm, placing wreath on standard (Judea Capta series, according to FORVM ) RIC 362; RSC 618, BMC 74. (2.85 grams / 17 mm) eBay Dec. 2013 Lot @ $5.00

 

[Hrefn]

@Qcumbor, great dragon head prow on that ship.  

[Jay GT4]

 

T CAES VESPASIAN IMP P TR P COS II
Laureate head right

VICTORIA NAVALIS SC
Victory standing right on prow, with wreath and palm

Second issue

Rome, 72 CE
9.54g
RIC 454 Vespasian (R)
Ex-Heiler AE-Collections

Nice green patina and not as rough in hand

 

[ValiantKnight]

Same reverse but head left.

Domitian, Roman Empire
(later revalued in the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy)
AE As / 42 nummi
Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II, laureate head left, countermark XLII (42) in left field
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVST, Victory advancing right, standing on prow, holding wreath and palm branch, S-C across fields
Mint: Rome
Date: 73-74 AD (struck); 498-526 AD (revalued)
Ref: RIC 677

[David Atherton]

1 hour ago, ValiantKnight said:

Same reverse but head left.

Domitian, Roman Empire
(later revalued in the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy)
AE As / 42 nummi
Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II, laureate head left, countermark XLII (42) in left field
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVST, Victory advancing right, standing on prow, holding wreath and palm branch, S-C across fields
Mint: Rome
Date: 73-74 AD (struck); 498-526 AD (revalued)
Ref: RIC 677

Definitely one of my favourite coins you have!

[Tejas]

17 hours ago, ValiantKnight said:

Same reverse but head left.

Domitian, Roman Empire
(later revalued in the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy)
AE As / 42 nummi
Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II, laureate head left, countermark XLII (42) in left field
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVST, Victory advancing right, standing on prow, holding wreath and palm branch, S-C across fields
Mint: Rome
Date: 73-74 AD (struck); 498-526 AD (revalued)
Ref: RIC 677

 

Since the 42-nummi denomination was used by the Vandals in Africa, but not by the Ostrogoths in Italy (who had a 40-nummi denomination), I tend to think that these are Vandalic counter marks. I know, however, that this has been discussed controversially in the literature.

 

[kirispupis]

Here's mine. I fell for the hype. 😞

Vespasian, 69-79 CE
AR Denarius 18 mm, 3.16 g, 7 h
Rome, 72-73 CE
IMP CAES VESP AVG COS IIII Laureate head of Vespasian to right
Rev. VICTORIA AVGVSTI Victory walking to right, placing wreath on standard
BMC 74. Cohen 618. RIC 362
Ex Nomos

 

[ominus1]

1 hour ago, kirispupis said:

I fell for the hype. 😞

....yeah, but that scowl's worth it! ^^