Vespasian PROVIDENT Altar As

[David Atherton]

My latest addition is not a screaming rarity, but neither is it as 'common' as RIC estimates. 

 

Vespasian
Æ As, 10.42g
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: PROVIDENT in exergue; S C in field; Altar
RIC 1234 (C). BMC 846. BNC 848.
Acquired from eBay, November 2024.

Late in Vespasian's reign the mint at Lyon (ancient Lugdunum) struck a fairly large issue of bronze at a time when the mint at Rome was winding down its own bronze production. Presumably this late issue was produced to address a shortage of bronze coinage in the Western provinces. Many of the types were recycled from earlier issues from both Rome and Lyon. Although the type is commonly described as an altar, Marvin Tameanko has convincingly argued it is actually a sacellum, or small shrine. Originally, Tiberius struck the Provident altar type for Divus Augustus. It was later revived during the recent Civil War and was struck by both Galba and Vitellius. The altar was engraved either with or without decorative garland. Here we have the unadorned variant.

In hand.

 

Thank you for looking!

[CPK]

Nice coin, looks good in the hand. 👍

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Nice pick up!

[panzerman]

Nice additions for your collection!

John