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| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 132 | Auction date: 18 May 2026 |
| Lot number: 42 Price realized: 42,500 USD (Approx. 36,508 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 26.01 g, 6h). "Judaea Capta" commemorative. Rome mint. Struck AD 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, S C in exergue, palm tree; to left, Vespasian standing right, left foot on helmet, holding spear in right hand, cradling parazonium in left arm; to right, Judaea, veiled and draped, seated right on cuirass, in attitude of mourning. RIC II.1 167; Hendin 6534; Brin 45; BMCRE 543-6; BN 497-8. Superb EF. A very impressive coin. From the PLZ Collection, purchased from Antiqua. Ex Sternberg XIII (17 November 1983), lot 610. An especially poignant depiction on the reverse of this Judaea Capta sestertius places this coin at the apex of almost all of these types I've ever seen, and I was fortunate to acquire it from a private seller. (PLZ) Few Roman coins are as evocative as the famous "Judaea Capta" issues of Vespasian and Titus, making them among the most widely sought-after types in the whole Roman series. No one took better advantage of a single military victory than the Flavian rulers, who were the final winners in the civil wars of AD 68-69. Late in the reign of Nero, in AD 66, an anti-Roman rebellion erupted in the client kingdom of Judaea. After initial efforts to quell the revolt with local forces failed, the following year Nero sent the veteran general Vespasian to Judaea with a large legionary task force to crush the rebels. He was able to subdue most of Judaea but, in the midst of the campaign, Nero's regime collapsed and a free-for-all ensued that would soon see Vespasian's legions declare him emperor. He departed for Rome to claim the throne, leaving his elder son, Titus, to handle the conclusion of this First Jewish War. Titus prosecuted the war with grim efficiency, finally placing Jerusalem under siege until it fell, with the accompanying destruction of the second temple, in the summer of AD 70. Vespasian and Titus would celebrate a triumph back at Rome, the details of which can still be seen on the Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum. The final resistance of the Jewish rebels ended with the fall of Masada in April, AD 73. Perhaps the most recognizable result of the Jewish War is the Roman Colosseum, which was started by Vespasian and opened publicly by Titus in AD 79. This Flavian Amphitheater, later named after the Colossus of Nero which stood before it, was built from spoils seized from the war, among them thousands of enslaved Jews who labored in its construction. The Judaea Capta coinage commenced in AD 71, capitalizing on the sensational triumph held in Rome to celebrate Titus' victory. Flavian propaganda understandably wanted to stress this foreign conquest, rather than their defeat of fellow Romans in the recent civil war. The type almost always features a Jewess seated at the base of a palm tree, her face buried in her hands in abject mourning. Standing opposite the tree, on the present example, is a triumphant Vespasian standing in full armor, holding a spear, his foot placed on a helmet. Few images so concisely convey both the swelling pride of the conqueror and the utter desolation of the defeated. Though Judea Capta coinage was struck in substantial numbers and is widely collected, this exceptional example must surely rank as one of the finest surviving specimens of the entire series. The portrait is superb and the reverse details are exceptionally well defined. Estimate: 50000 USD |  |
Match 1:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Keystone Auction 17 | Auction date: 22 July 2026 |
| Lot number: 223 Price realized: 6,000 USD (Approx. 5,260 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 24.88 g, 6h). "Judaea Capta" commemorative. Rome mint. Struck AD 71. Laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, S C in exergue, palm tree; to left, Judaea seated left on cuirass; to right, male captive standing left, his hands bound behind his back; both figures surrounded by arms. RIC II.1 165; Hendin 6532. Tan, red, and brown surfaces, minor roughness. VF. From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 88 (14 September 2011), lot 1259. Estimate: 1500 USD |  |
Match 2:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 133 Online Sessions | Auction date: 23 September 2026 |
| Lot number: 6142 Price realized: 1,800 USD (Approx. 1,573 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Titus. As Caesar, AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (26.68mm, 33 g, 7h). "Judaea Capta" commemorative. Rome mint. Struck under Vespasian, 1 July AD 72-June 73. Laureate head right / Victory standing right, left foot on helmet, inscribing shield set on palm tree. RIC II.1 501 (Vespasian); Hendin 1540. Green surfaces, smoothed and altered surfaces. Near VF. R2 in RIC II.1. Estimate: 750 USD |  |
Match 3:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 615 | Auction date: 12 August 2026 |
| Lot number: 617 Price realized: 400 USD (Approx. 346 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Vespasian. AD 69-79. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.22 g, 6h). "Judaea Capta" commemorative. Rome mint. Struck circa 21 December AD 69-early 70. Laureate head right / Trophy; to right, Judaea, veiled and draped, seated right on ground in attitude of mourning, knees drawn up, head resting in left hand, which is propped on knees. RIC II.1 2; Hendin 6509; RSC 226. Toned. Fine. Estimate: 100 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 133 Online Sessions | Auction date: 23 September 2026 |
| Lot number: 6136 Price realized: 325 USD (Approx. 284 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Vespasian. AD 69-79. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.00 g, 6h). "Judaea Capta" commemorative. Rome mint. Struck circa 21 December AD 69-early 70. Laureate head right / Trophy; to right, Judaea, veiled and draped, seated right on ground in attitude of mourning, knees drawn up, head resting in left hand, which is propped on knees. RIC II.1 2; Hendin 6509; RSC 226. Toned, porosity, light scratches, lamination. Near VF. Estimate: 200 USD |  |
Match 5:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 613 | Auction date: 15 July 2026 |
| Lot number: 710 Price realized: 130 USD (Approx. 114 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 25.65 g, 6h). "Dacia Capta" commemorative. Rome mint. Struck circa AD 108-109/110. Laureate bust right, wearing aegis / Dacia seated left in attitude of mourning on round shield, right knee drawn up, head resting on right hand, which is propped on right knee, left arm across knee; shields around; to left, trophy with arms around. RIC II 564 var. (bust type); Woytek 326c var. (configuration of arms); Banti 245 var. (same). Dark brown patina, cleaning scratches, roughness, some earthen deposits. Near VF. Estimate: 100 USD |  |
