Roma, 2.4.2005
Egregio
Lettore,
di seguito riporto gli elementi significativi
pertinenti alla moneta di figura:
Denario1,
Zecca di Roma, 70 d.C, RIC/II
9, BMC/II
21, indice di rarità
"C".
D. IMP CAESAR
VESPASIANVS AVG2. Vespasiano,
busto laureato a destra.
R. COS ITER - TR
POT3. La Pace in
piedi a sinistra sorregge un ramo e il caduceo.
La ricerca nel web di monete simili ha prodotto i
seguenti risultati (i link non sono più validi):
-
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/vespasian/RIC_0009.1.jpg
Description This piece was minted during the reign
of Vespasian, who ruled from 69-79 AD. Vespasian
emerged victorious from the devestating civil wars
that followed the death of Nero, and was in large
measure responsible for the rebuilding of Rome
which followed. Undoubtedly his most well known
project was the Flavian Amphitheatre, also known
as the Colosseum. The defeat of the First Jewish
Revolt also occurred during his reign. The obverse
of this type depicts the laureate head of
Vespasian facing right, with legends
IMP.CAESAR.VESPASIANVS.AVG. The reverse type
features Pax standing left, holding branch and
caduceus, with legends COS.ITER.TR.POT. Coin is
struck on a smallish flan, but otherwise grades F,
with clear devices and legends where struck up. A
nice example of the type, catalouged as RSC-94g.
Starts at $24.00 08/24/99
- http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/vespasian/RIC_0009.jpg
Vespasian '1st Year' AR Denarius RSC 64g, minted
69 AD, 1st year of his reign 3.35 grams, 18mm in
diameter. His laureate head right. Pax standing
left, holding branch and caduceus. aEF/VF - very
young portrait, excellent detail, some small nicks
on obverse. Currently $70.00 Oct-08-00
- http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/natto/id/vespa/vespa051.jpg
Denarius Obv: IMPCAESARVESPASIANVSAVG - Laureate
head right. Rev: COSITERTRPOT - Pax standing left,
holding branch and caduceus. 69-71 (Rome). $52
12/11/02.
- http://www.coinscatalog.com/showpic.php?id_catalog_int=40352005
Denarius Obv: IMPCAESARVESPASIANVSAVG - Laureate
head right. Rev: COSITERTRPOT - Pax standing left,
holding branch and caduceus. 69-71 (Rome). $52
12/11/02. Vespasian Augustus AD 69 - 79 (1 July AD
69 - 24 June 79) Silver AP Denarius Rome mint AD
69-71 Coins Catalog ID: 2005 Price (USD) VF: $30,
XF: $65, FDC: $110 Obverse: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS
AVG - Laureate head right. Reverse: COS ITER TR
POT - Pax standing left, holding branch and
caduceus, References RIC, vol. II, p. 16, 9D
Vespasian - Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Husband of
Domitilla the Elder; Father of Titus, Domitian and
Domitilla the Younger; Father-in-low of Domitia;
Grandfather Of Julia Titi. Mints: Alexandria,
Antioch, Byzantium, Ephesus, Judaea, Lugdunum,
Philippi, Poetovio, Rome, Samasota, Tarraco, Tyre,
Biography: Titus Flavius Vespasian was the son of
a knight who served as tax collector, but on his
mother's side he belonged to a senatorial family.
He was a capable general and a honest
administrator, qualities that earned him high
incumbencies, but little money, to the point that
he became bankrupt and was only saved by his
brother. He fell out of favor with Nero for
falling asleep w/hile Nero was singing but was
later recalled and put in charge of Judaea just in
time for the First Jewish revolt. Vespasian
suppressed the revolt and by 68 held the entire
province except Jerusalem. Learning about Nero's
death, he recognized Galba and then Vitellius, but
in the meanwhile made alliances with the governors
of Syria and Egypt. With their support on July 1,
69 we claimed the imperial title. His adherents in
the Balkans having cleared the ground and captured
Rome in late 69, Vespasian took his time and only
entered the capital in October 70, leaving his son
Titus to finish off the Jewish resistance. His
accession marked an end to the civil wars and
celebration of peace was a consistent element of
his public appearances in person and on artifacts.
Like Augustus, Vespasian new how to treat people,
especially the army. He broke the large Danubian
and Rhine camps into smaller ones containing a
legion each and mixed races in military units, but
he acknowledged the soldiers' importance by dating
his reign from the time of his acclamation in
Egypt rather the entry in Rome, He further
centralized the administration on behalf of the
imperial power and at the expense of the Senate,
but head of state, Among his lasting legacies are
the foundations of the Colosseum and the Temple of
Peace, He died on June 24, 79, struggling to his
feet on his deathbed with the words "An emperor
ought to die standing."
- http://tinyurl.com/6louu Grading = VF Weight =
3.3g This Wonderful Coin is of Vespasian Obverse:
- IMP. CAESAR. VESPASIANVS. AVG Reverse: - COS.
ITER. TR. POT, Pax standing right holding branch.
- http://tinyurl.com/6jxmx
Vespasianus 69-79. Denar 69-71 Rom. Kopf r. mit
Lorbeerkranz IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG / COS
ITER TR POT Pax hält Zweig und Caduceus. RIC 104
Erhaltung: ss Preis: € 150,00.
Concludo osservando
che, sebbene le caratteristiche fisiche principali
della moneta (peso e diametro) appaiano compatibili
con i conî d'epoca, non altrettanto si può dire per
l'asse di conio. Inoltre lo stile della moneta di
figura, in particolare il profilo di Vespasiano, ha
ben poco a che fare con quello delle monete sopra
riportate, reperite nel web e certamente originali.
Altro non saprei dirle in una valutazione a
distanza.
Un saluto cordiale.
Giulio De Florio
Note:
-------------------------------------------
(1) Secondo
BMC,
il peso del denario di Vespasiano era di 3,23g.
(media calcolata su 191 campioni). Due esemplari
catalogati da BMC presentano le seguenti
caratteristiche fisiche:
classificazione
BMC |
peso
(g) |
diametro
(mm) |
asse
di conio
(ore) |
21 |
3,44 |
19,05 |
7 |
22 |
3,34 |
19,05 |
6 |
Aggiungerò che non è infrequente trovare denarii
del diametro di 0,7 pollici (17,78mm), come è
appunto la moneta di figura. Sfogliando BMC,
rilevo che l'asse di conio della monetazione di
Vespasiano è normalmente ad ore 6 sino a circa il
73 d. C.. In questo senso la moneta di figura
appare anomala.
(2) IMPerator CAESAR
VESPASIANVS AVGustus. La leggenda del dritto si
presta a numerose varianti dovute alla
presenza o meno della stanghetta orizzontale nelle
"A". Per esempio in BMC21 la stanghetta è presente
solo nella prima "A" di CAESAR e nella "A" di AVG,
assente in tutte le altre. In BMC22 invece la
stanghetta è presente nella seconda "A" di CAESAR
e nella "A" di AVG, assente in tutte le altre. Non
mi pare dunque che la stanghetta possa consentire
una discriminazione tra moneta vera e falsa.
(3) COnSul ITER (per la
seconda volta) TRibunicia POTestas. Il titolo
imperiale prende spesso il posto di una leggenda
descrittiva della Virtù rappresentata sul
rovescio, con ciò significando che si voleva che i
titoli imperiali fossero ben noti a tutti.
L'indicazione del 2° consolato consente di datare
la moneta al 70 d.C.
(4) L'attribuzione
fornita dal sito è errata perché attinente ad una
tipologia diversa (la Pax seduta). |