A Rare Vespasian Victoria Navalis As

[David Atherton]

If you blink, you'll miss the rarity of this unassuming piece. It's not in the best condition, but as a specialist I take what I can get.

 

 
Vespasian
Æ As, 8.98g
Lyon mint, 77-78 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS VIII P P; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.; globe at point of bust
Rev: VICTORIA NAVALIS; S C in field; Victory stg. r. on prow, with wreath and palm
RIC 1243 (R2). BMC spec. acquired 1935. BNC -.
Acquired from Issoire Philatélie, November 2024.

An extremely rare VICTORIA NAVALAIS as variety struck during Vespasian's great bronze issue of 77-78 at Lugdunum (modern Lyon). Traditionally, this type has been attributed to the naval victory Vespasian and Titus won on Lake Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee) during the Jewish War. Missing from Paris collection. RIC cites a specimen acquired by the BM in 1935.

In hand.

 

Thanks for looking!

[CPK]

Very cool rarity! And visually appealing, too. That is a classic late style "Lugdunese" portrait. I've always been curious about those NAVALIS types since I've seen a few different explanations put forward. It would certainly seem to be referring to a specific engagement, so the Lake Gennesaret theory makes sense. Were there any other major specific naval victories under Vespasian (comparable to say Actium?)

 

[panzerman]

With rarities anything  is great to acquire. Always neat to own such a coin.

John

[David Atherton]

4 hours ago, CPK said:

 Were there any other major specific naval victories under Vespasian (comparable to say Actium?)

No, not anything to write home about, but then again the 'naval battle' on Lake Gennesaret wasn't either! The Flavian propaganda machine really had a field day with it.

[Sulla80]

Always fun to admire your Vespasian rarities @David Atherton.  I will share this coin which perhaps is also a Victoria Navalis (CAVEATS: the legend doesn't specify, this is not at all rare, from Rome not Lyon, and a few years earlier ~ AD 75 )

[David Atherton]

7 hours ago, Sulla80 said:

Always fun to admire your Vespasian rarities @David Atherton.  I will share this coin which perhaps is also a Victoria Navalis (CAVEATS: the legend doesn't specify, this is not at all rare, from Rome not Lyon, and a few years earlier ~ AD 75 )

I find it interesting that the prow Victory is standing on is often times much larger on the denarius variety than on the bronzes!