David Atherton Posted March 13, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 13, 2023 (edited) I recently picked up this extremely rare Vespasian bronze for a rock bottom bargain price. The auction house's description: 'TITUS (79-81 AD) or VESPASIAN (69-79 AD). AE, Sestertius. Rome. 11.18g 27.2m.' Not Rome, not a sestertius, not Titus. Vespasian Æ27, 11.16g Ephesus (?) mint, 77-78 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVGVSTVS; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: PONT MAX TR POT P P COS VIII CENS; S C in field; Ceres, veiled, std. l., with two corn ears and cornucopiae RIC 1497 (R2). BMC -. BNC -. RPC 1470 (1 spec.). Ex Bucephalus 16, 24-25 February 2023, lot 913. 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. This Ceres with cornucopiae is the third known specimen of the type. RPC cites one in Berlin, another is recorded in the RIC II.1 Addenda. In hand. Thank you for looking and watching! Edited March 13, 2023 by David Atherton 15 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvk Posted March 13, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 13, 2023 Great find! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay GT4 Posted March 14, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 14, 2023 And also unfortunately...not mine😄 Great pick up David 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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