Roma Numismatics Ltd > Auction XXXAuction date: 21 March 2024
Lot number: 429

Price realized: 3,600 GBP   (Approx. 4,560 USD / 4,199 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Vespasian AV Aureus. "Judaea Capta" commemorative issue. Rome, AD 71. IMP CAES VESP AVG P M, laureate head to right / Victory standing to right on globe, holding wreath and palm; VIC-AVG across fields. RIC II.1 47; C. 583; BMCRE 63; BN 47; Calicó 698; Roma XV, 527 (hammer: 5,500 GBP). 7.28g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd, E-Sale 100, 28 July 2022, lot 1028.

Part of the series of victory issues struck after the successful conclusion of the Jewish War.

Estimate: 3500 GBP

Match 1:
Áureo & Calicó > Auction 428Auction date: 14 March 2024
Lot number: 1030

Price realized: 1,600 EUR   (Approx. 1,742 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


(71 A.D.). Vespasian. Aureus. (Spink 2256 var) (Co. 583) (RIC. 47) (Calico 698b). Obv.: IMP. CAES. VESP. AVG. P. M. His head laureate. Rev.: VIC. AVG. Victory standing on globe, holding wreath and palm. Countermark on obverse. Ex Aureo & Calico 07/07/2022, no. 88. 7,01 g. MBC/MBC-.

Estimate: 2000 EUR

Match 2:
Roma Numismatics Ltd > E-Sale 117Auction date: 22 February 2024
Lot number: 835

Price realized: 60 GBP   (Approx. 76 USD / 70 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Vespasian Fourrée Denarius. After the Rome mint, circa AD 72-73. IMP CAES VESP AVG P M, laureate head to right / Vesta standing facing, head to left, holding simpulum and sceptre; VES-TA across fields. For possible prototype, cf. RIC II.1 360 var. (obv. legend). 2.38g, 18mm, 6h.

Very Fine.

Estimate: 50 GBP

Match 3:
Roma Numismatics Ltd > E-Sale 117Auction date: 22 February 2024
Lot number: 833

Price realized: 220 GBP   (Approx. 277 USD / 257 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Vespasian Æ As. Lugdunum, AD 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III, laureate head to right, globe at point of bust / VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Victory advancing to left, holding wreath and palm; S-C across fields. RIC II.1 1176; BMCRE 811† note. 11.29g, 29mm, 7h.

Very Fine; beautiful untouched patina and well centred. Rare.

Ex cgb.fr e-shop;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 85, 17 June 2021, lot 1620;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 38, 29 July 2017, lot 546.

The reverse type is taken from the Nero Dupondii and Asses: late Nero bronzes of this reverse type also exist with countermarks of Vespasian. Both indicators of a transitional time between the two emperors.

Estimate: 200 GBP

Match 4:
Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115Auction date: 8 May 2024
Lot number: 31070

Price realized: 14,000 USD   (Approx. 13,024 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Ancients
Vespasian (AD 69-79). AE sestertius (33mm, 25.71 gm, 6h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 2/5, Fine Style, smoothing. Rome, AD 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head of Vespasian right / IVDAEA-CAPTA, palm tree in center; bearded and draped Jewish captive standing right (on left) , hands tied behind back, grounded shield behind, and Judaea seated right on cuirass (on right), in attitude of mourning, resting left elbow on knee, supporting head with left hand, pile of arms behind both figures, S C in exergue. RIC II.1 159. GBC 6, 6530. Deep coffee patina with evergreen tones. Light smoothing does not detract from the crisply struck, perfectly centered depictions.

Ex G.T. Collection of the Twelve Caesars (Roma Numismatics, Auction XX, 29 October 2020), lot 499; Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XXI (9 January 2018), lot 731; Numismatica Arts Classica, Auction 94, 6 October 2016, lot 159; Michael Weller Collection (Classical Numismatic Group, Triton VIII, 11 January 2005), lot 1007.

The famous reverse legend IVDAEA CAPTA refers to the triumph of Vespasian's son Titus over the Jewish rebels and the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem the prior year. Six hundred years earlier, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II and his conquering army had destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem, carrying away the Jewish people as slaves back to Babylon. The Romans chose to leave the subjugated Jewish population in place, a mistake that would come back to haunt them in the Bar Kokhba Revolt 60 years later. But if not steal the Jewish population as the Babylonians had done, what did the Romans loot from Judaea as spoils of war?

Though the Romans had been enraged by the insubordination of the Jews, they held a certain respect for the ancient nature of the Jewish religion and its institutions, part of the reason that Roman authorities permitted Judaism while persecuting newer "cults" like Christianity. When the triumphant army of Titus descended upon the city in August AD 70, they fixated on the Temple, the center of the Jewish faith and therefore of the revolt against Rome. Before destroying the structure, the Roman legionaries looted the sacred relics of the Temple, including the Table of the Sacred Bread, a table of solid gold that held various food and drink that was a type of permanent offering to God. But the greatest prize of all was the gold menorah, which was paraded through the streets of Rome along with the aforementioned Table and the sacred trumpets during Titus' triumph. The whole scene, including the menorah, is featured prominently on the Arch of Titus, which still stands today in Rome.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-vespasian-ad-69-79-ae-sestertius-33mm-2571-gm-6h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-2-5-fine-style-smoothing/a/3115-31070.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024

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Estimate: 10000-12000 USD

Match 5:
Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61373Auction date: 5 May 2024
Lot number: 22126

Price realized: 1,350 USD   (Approx. 1,263 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Ancients
Vespasian (AD 69-79). AE sestertius (34mm, 24.89 gm, 6h). NGC AU 5/5 - 2/5, Fine Style. Rome, AD 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head of Vespasian right / FORTVNAE-REDVCI, Fortuna standing facing, head left, holding branch and rudder set on globe in right hand, cornucopia cradled in left arm; S C in exergue. RIC II.1, 157. Golden highlights on a forest green patina.

Descended from a family of small-time entrepreneurs and tax farmers in the Sabine hill country north of Rome, Flavius Vespasianus was born in AD 9 and rose to prominence in the Roman Army. He gained distinction during Claudius' invasion of Britain in AD 43-44 and won a Consulship in AD 51, but fell from imperial favor when he dozed off during one of Nero's musical performances. When a Jewish faction in the province of Judaea rebelled and massacred the local Roman garrison in AD 66, Nero sent Vespasian at the head of three legions to crush the revolt. Through his able son Titus, Vespasian gained the friendship and support of Mucianus, governor of Syria, who had another three legions at his disposal. When the collapse of Nero's regime in AD 68 led to a free-for-all for the throne, with Galba, Otho, and Vitellius following in quick succession, Vespasian realized he had the means and ability to make his own try for supreme power.

On 1 July AD 69, the legions of Alexandria, Egypt declared Vespasian as emperor. He decided on a policy of blockade and attrition to defeat Vitellius, but the sudden declaration of support by the Danubian legions and their invasion of Italy in the fall of AD 69 brought a much quicker victory. Vitellius was executed on 20 December, and the Senate proclaimed Vespasian emperor two days later. Arriving in Rome the following October, Vespasian celebrated a magnificent triumph for the Judaean campaign before launching an austerity program to put the Empire's finances on sound footing. His decade of rule was largely untroubled by revolts and conspiracies. Upon his death due to a sudden illness in AD 79 he was widely and sincerely mourned, and power passed smoothly to his son Titus.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-vespasian-ad-69-79-ae-sestertius-34mm-2489-gm-6h-ngc-au-5-5-2-5-fine-style/a/61373-22126.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61373-05052024

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