David Atherton Posted May 8, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 8, 2023 (edited) Well, I've been on a roll this year stumbling across coin types or varieties that previously have not been published. My latest is a new variety of an extremely rare Vespasian Ephesian bronze. A truly remarkable coin! VespasianÆ19, 4.09g Ephesus (?) mint, 77-78 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVGVST; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l. Rev: PON MAX TR P P P COS VIII CENS; S C low in field; Caduceus, winged, between crossed cornucopiae RIC 1508A (R3). BMC -. BNC -. RPC -. Acquired from Numidas, April 2023. 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. Here we have an unpublished and unique left facing portrait variety of the crossed cornucopiae with caduceus type. RIC II.1 co-author Ian Carradice was alerted to this new discovery and has assigned it as 1508A in the Addenda Corrigenda. Looks better in hand. As always, thank you for looking/watching! Edited May 8, 2023 by David Atherton 19 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted May 8, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 8, 2023 A remarkable pick up indeed! It is fantastic, and gives added impetus to more carefully examine examples seen for sale. It does look better in the video, congratulations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Lee Posted May 12, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 12, 2023 Congrats on the great and special find! Vespasian looks pretty pleased with his new home. Agree with expat that it does look great in your hands! 👏 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejewk Posted May 12, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 12, 2023 Good spotting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted May 12, 2023 · Patron Share Posted May 12, 2023 Doesn't matter if it looks better in-hand!! It's the finest known!!! Coingratulations on the new discovery, @David Atherton! It's always fun to add to the body of numismatic knowledge by contributing a coin to a major reference work. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Atherton Posted May 12, 2023 · Member Author Share Posted May 12, 2023 1 hour ago, Roman Collector said: Doesn't matter if it looks better in-hand!! It's the finest known!!! 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamnaskires Posted May 12, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 12, 2023 Congrats, David. For all: Every volume of KOINON: The International Journal of Classical Numismatic Studies includes a “Catalogue of New Varieties.” General editor Nick Molinari always welcomes submissions for the next volume. It’s a nice way to get such coins published in a serious journal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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