| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 31070 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| 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 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 10000-12000 USD |  |
