Roma, 21.5.2009
Egregio
Lettore,
di seguito
riporto gli elementi significativi pertinenti alla sua
moneta che ho potuto raccogliere:
Sesterzio1, zecca di Roma, 71 d. C.2, RIC II
424 (pag. 68)3,
BMC II
532 (pag. 115), Cohen
I 234 (pag. 385), indice di rarità
"S"
Descrizione
sommaria (sono indicate in rosso le parti della
leggenda usurate o comunque non più leggibili):
D. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P
P P COS III4. Testa di Vespasiano, laureata, a destra.
R. IVDAEA -
CAPTA5.
S C in
esergo. Palma al centro, a sinistra Giudeo, stante a
destra, mani legate dietro la schiena; a destra
Giudea, seduta a destra su una corazza; entrambe le
figure circondate da armi.
La ricerca
nel web di monete di tipologia simile a quella di
figura ha prodotto i seguenti risultati (nelle
monete 1÷3 il nome dell'imperatore è abbreviato:
VESPAS invece che VESPASIAN e la catalogazione è
quindi RIC 233 invece che RIC 424):
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=96923
Source Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction 40
(16.05.2007) Lot 313 ( « | » )
Description Roman coins related to Judaea The
Roman Empire, Vespasian 69 – 79 No.: 313 Estimate:
CHF 1800 d=36 mm. Sestertius, Roma 71, æ 27.10 g.
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III
Laureate head r. Rev. IVDAEA – CAPTA Jewess seated
r. on cuirass under palm-tree in attitude of
mourning; behind palm, Jew standing r., hands tied
behind his back; in field l., pile of arms. In
exergue, S C. RIC 424. BMC 533. C 234
(misdescribed). CBN 489 var. Hendin 773. Rare.
Brown tone and about very fine very fine.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=96924
Source Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction 40
(16.05.2007) Lot 314 ( « | » )
Description Roman coins related to Judaea The
Roman Empire, Vespasian 69 – 79 No.: 314 Estimate:
CHF 2500 d=35 mm Sestertius, Roma 71, æ 24.55 g.
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III
Laureate head r. Rev. IVDAEA – CAPTA Jewess seated
r. on cuirass under palm-tree in attitude of
mourning; before, shield. Behind palm, Jew
standing r., hands tied behind his back; in field
l., shields and helmet. In exergue, S C. RIC 424.
BMC 761 (Tarraco, these dies). C 232. CBN –.
Hendin –. An extremely rare variety, apparently
only the second specimen known, of a rare type.
Dark brown tone and about very fine Ex Superior
December 1992, Bromberg part II, 614 and Leu 75,
1999, 1482 sales.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=148817
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Triton IX (10.01.2006) Lot 1415 ( «
| » ) Price 6000 USD Description VESPASIAN.
69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (24.13 g, 7h). "Judaea
Capta" issue. Rome mint. Struck 71 AD. IMP CAES
VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head
right / IVDAEA CAPTA, S C in exergue, palm tree;
to right, Jewess, in attitude of mourning, seated
right on cuirass, round shield before; to left,
Jew standing right with his hands tied behind his
back; two spears, a hexagonal and a round shield
behind. RIC II 424; Hendin 773; BMCRE 533; BN 490
var. (arms on reverse); Cohen 234. VF, hard dark
green patina, flan crack, die break on reverse.
Well centered and struck. ($4000). Estimate:
$4000.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156660
Source THE NEW YORK SALE Auction IX (13.01.2005)
Lot 171 ( « | » ) Price 1450 USD
Description ROMAN COINS IMPERIAL COINAGE
VESPASIANUS, 69-79 No.: 171 Estimation: $ 1800
d=39 mm Sestertius, 71. AE 25.34 g. IMP CAES
VESPASIAN AVG PM TR P P P COS III Laureate head r.
Rev. IVDAEA – CAPTA / S-C Palm tree, on the l.,
bearded Jew with chlamys standing r., his hands
bound behind his back; behind, him, shields and
spears; to the r. of the tree, Jewess, draped and
veiled, seated r. on cuirass, propping her head on
her l. hand in mourning attitude. BN III, 142,
489. RIC 68, 424. C. 232. Rare. Dark green patina.
Good very fine.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=148856
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Triton VIII (11.01.2005) Lot 1007 ( «
| » ) Price 21000 USD Description VESPASIAN.
69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (25.77 gm, 6h). Judaea
Capta issue. Rome mint. Struck 71 AD. Estimate
$10000 VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (25.77
gm, 6h). Judaea Capta issue. Rome mint. Struck 71
AD. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III,
laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, S C in
exergue, Jewess, in attitude of mourning, seated
right on cuirass under palm tree; two round
shields and spear before; to left, Jew standing
right with his hands tied behind his back; two
spears, two hexagonal shields, and two round
shields behind. RIC II 424; Hendin 773; BMCRE 533
corr. (no spear before Jewess; same reverse die);
cf. BN 490; Cohen 234 corr. (CAESAR). EF,
wonderful hard green patina, light smoothing in
fields. ($10,000) From the Michael Weller
Collection.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=124533
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Triton VIII (11.01.2005) Lot 1115 ( «
| » ) Price 1600 USD Description VESPASIAN.
69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (30.58 gm, 6h). Judaea
Capta issue. Rome mint. Struck 71 AD. Estimate
$1000 VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (30.58 gm,
6h). Judaea Capta issue. Rome mint. Struck 71 AD.
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III,
laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, S C in
exergue, Jewess, in attitude of mourning, seated
right on cuirass under palm tree; one round and
one hexagonal shield and [spear] before; to left,
Jew standing right with his hands tied behind his
back; [two spears], one round and one hexagonal
shield behind. RIC II 424; Hendin 773; BMCRE 533
corr. (no spear before Jewess); cf. BN 490; Cohen
234 corr. (CAESAR). VF, emerald green patina,
light smoothing in fields. ($1000).
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156678
Source Heritage Auctions, Inc. Auction Long Beach
Signature Sale 357 (09.09.2004) Lot 12184 (
« | » ) Price 1400 USD Description
Vespasian. A.D. 69-79. AE sestertius (34 mm, 27.44
g). 'Judaea Capta' issue. Rome, A.D. 71. Laureate
head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, Jewess, in attitude of
mourning, seated right at base of palm tree; on
left, Jew standing right with hands tied behind
back; various arms around. RIC 424; BMC 536; Cohen
233. Good VF, green and brown patina, some
smoothing in fields, legends slightly
strengthened. Estimate: 1600-1800 USD.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156689
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Triton VII (12.01.2004) Lot 889 ( «
| » ) Price 2000 USD Description VESPASIAN.
69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (27.02 gm). Judaea Capta
issue. Rome mint. Struck 71 AD. Estimate $2000
VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (27.02 gm).
Judaea Capta issue. Rome mint. Struck 71 AD. IMP
CAE VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate
head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, S C in exergue, Judaea
seated right on cuirass beneath palm tree in
attitude of mourning; bound Jewish captive
standing right behind; spears and shields around.
RIC II 424 var. (CAES); Hendin 773 var. (same);
BMCRE 533 var. (CAESAR); BN -; Cohen 234 var.
(same). Nice VF, red and brown patina, minor
smoothing. ($2000).
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=43457
Source Leu Numismatik AG Auction 86 (05.05.2003)
Lot 798 ( « | » ) Price 1300 CHF
(~974 USD) Description THE EARLY ROMAN EMPIRE
Vespasian, 69-79 Estimate: CHF 1'250.00 Sestertius
(Orichalcum, 26.82 g 6), 71. IMP CAES VESPAS AVG P
M TR P P P COS III Laureate head of Vespasian to
right. Rev. IVDAEA CAPTA S C Palm tree; to right,
mourning Jewess seated to right on cuirass, amidst
armor and shields; to left, Jew, with his hands
bound behind him, standing to right with shields
and helmet behind him. BMC 532. BN 491. Bromberg
–. C. 233. Hendin 773. RIC 424. Vagi 924. Dark
brown patina. Very fine. From the collection of
Teddy Kollek.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156711
Source THE NEW YORK SALE Auction V (16.01.2003)
Lot 282 ( « | » ) Price 1000 USD
Description ANCIENT COINS ROMAN COINS IMPERIAL
COINAGE VESPASIANUS, 69-79 No.: 282 Estimate: $
1200 d=35 mm Sestertius, 71. AE 24.75 g. IMP CAES
VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P PPP COS III Laureate head
r. Rev. IVDAEA -CAPTA / SC Palm tree, on l.,
bearded Jew standing r., wearing chlamys, his
hands bound behind his back; behind him, shields
and spears; on r., mourning Jewess (Judaea),
veiled, seated r. on cuirass, propping her head on
her l. hand, with her r. hand she holds round
shield, another one in front of her. RIC 68, 424.
C. 232. BN III, 143, 490. Rare. Dark, blackish
green patina, partially flaked off on rev. Good
very fine.
- http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s2325.html#RIC_0159
VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (26.94 gm).
"Judaea Capta" issue. Struck 71 AD. IMP CAESAR
VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head
right / IVDEA CAPTA, S C in exergue, Jewess in
attitude of mourning, seated right beneath palm
tree; to left, captive Jew with hands tied behind
back standing right; captured weapons behind. RIC
II 424 note; BMCRE -; BN 489-491 var. (JVDAEA);
Cohen 232 var. (same). EF, green-black patina,
light porosity. Amongst the finest known! [See
color plate 13] ($20,000) Triton V Sale, 16 Jan
2002, lot 1915. Lot sold for $22000.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=25021
Source Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction 29
(11.05.2005) Lot 505 ( « | » )
Price 37000 CHF (~30700 USD) Description The Roman
Empire Vespasian, 69-79 No.: 505
Schätzwert/Estimation: CHF 20000.- d=32 mm.
Sestertius circa 71, æ 26.56 g. IMP CAES VESPASIAN
AVG P M TR P P P COS III Laureate head r. Rev.
IVADAE CAPTA Jewess seated r. on cuirass under
palm-tree in attitude of mourning; behind palm,
Jew standing r., hands tied behind back; in field
l., pile of arms. In exergue, S C. C 232. BMC 533
note. CBN 489. RIC 424. Very rare and among the
finest specimens known of this desirable issue.
Well struck in high relief with a superb green
patina, the reverse finely detailed. Good
extremely fine. Vespasian’s greatest military
triumph was the war he and his son Titus waged in
Judaea at the end of Nero’s reign. The campaign
was so difficult that the Flavians celebrated its
conclusion with triumphal processions, games, a
triumphal arch and an uncommonly extensive series
of coins. This sestertius is one of the most
remarkable examples to have survived, with even
the smallest details perfectly preserved. Most
impressive is the miniature portrait of Vespasian
on the reverse, the engraving of which would have
tested the skills of even the most gifted artist.
With dual sympathies the chronicler Josephus wrote
an in-depth narrative of the Roman campaign in
Judaea. We are told of great suffering by both
Jews and Romans, though in the final analysis the
Jews bore the lion’s share of the consequences.
The Roman dead numbered in the tens of thousands,
and Josephus counts the number of Jewish dead in
the millions, with most having succumbed to famine
or pestilence. Josephus describes what the Romans
encountered when they breached the walls of
Jerusalem and began to search the subterranean
portion of the city: "So horrible was the stench
from the bodies which met the intruders, that many
instantly withdrew, but others penetrated further
through avarice, trampling over heaps of corpses;
for many precious objects were found in these
passages…" In the aftermath, Josephus reports that
the Romans "…selected the tallest and most
handsome of the youth and reserved each of them
for the triumph; of the rest, those over seventeen
years of age he sent in chains to the mines in
Egypt, while multitudes were presented to Titus to
the various provinces, to be destroyed in the
theatres by the sword or by wild beasts; those
under seventeen were sold."
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=43458
Source Leu Numismatik AG Auction 86 (05.05.2003)
Lot 799 ( « | » ) Price 2500 CHF
(~1873 USD) Description THE EARLY ROMAN EMPIRE
Vespasian, 69-79 Estimate: CHF 1'500.00 Sestertius
(Orichalcum, 27.30 g 7), 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN
AVG P M TR P P P COS III Laureate head of
Vespasian to left. Rev. IVDAEA CAPTA S C Palm
tree; to right, mourning Jewess seated to right on
cuirass, amidst armor and shields; to left, Jew,
with his hands bound behind him, standing to right
with shields and helmet behind him. BMC –. BN –.
Bromberg –. C. 235. Hendin –. RIC 424. Extremely
rare, this type, with the left facing obverse,
seems to be missing from all major collections.
Reddish brown patina. About very fine. From the
collection of Teddy Kollek.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=96922
Source Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction 40
(16.05.2007) Lot 312 ( « | » )
Price 2400 CHF (~1970 USD) Description Roman coins
related to Judaea The Roman Empire, Vespasian 69 –
79 No.: 312 Estimate: CHF 2500 d=36 mm Sestertius,
Roma 71, æ 27.67 g. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR
P P P COS III Laureate head r. Rev. IVDAEA – CAPTA
Jewess seated r. on cuirass under palm-tree in
attitude of mourning; behind palm, Jew standing
r., hands tied behind his back; in field l., pile
of arms. In exergue, S C. RIC 424. BMC 533. C 234
(misdescribed). CBN 489 var. Hendin 773. Rare.
Tiber tone, minor metal flaws on obverse,
otherwise very fine / good very fine.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=155877
Source Numismatik Lanz München Auction 102
(28.05.2001) Lot 509 ( « | » )
Price 4400 DEM (~1964 USD) Description (Translate
description) KAISERREICH VESPASIANUS (69 - 79)
No.: 509 Schätzpreis-Estimation: DM 4500,-
Sesterz, 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AV - G P M TR P P
P COS III. Kopf des Vespasianus mit Lorbeerkranz
rechts. Rs: IVDAEA - CAPTA / S C. Verschleierte,
trauernde Iudaea, ihren Kopf auf die linke Hand
gestützt, unter Dattelpalme auf Helm nach rechts
sitzend, an ihrer Seite im Hintergrund ovaler
Schild; auf der linken Seite Jude mit Mantel, die
Hände auf den Rücken gefesselt, nach rechts
stehend, dahinter zwei langovale Schilde und zwei
Lanzen. RIC 424. C. - (vgl. 232). BMC - (vgl.
533). CBN -. 27,00 g. Sehr seltene Variante. Sehr
gutes Portrait, grünbraune Patina, sehr schön /
fast vorzüglich.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156638
Source THE NEW YORK SALE Auction XI (11.01.2006)
Lot 278 ( « | » ) Description
ROMAN EMPIRE VESPASIANUS, 69-79 No.: 278 Estimate:
$ 1500 d=35 mm Sestertius, 71. AE 24.00 g. IMP
CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III Laureate
head r. Rev. IVDAEA -CAPTA / SC Palm tree, on l.,
bearded Jew with chlamys standing r., his hands
bound behind his back; behind him, shield; to the
r. of the tree, Jewess, draped and veiled, seated
r. on cuirass, propping her head on her l. hand in
mourning attitude; shield in front of her. RIC 68,
424. C. 232. BN III, 142, 490. Rare. Dark,
blackish green patina. Surfaces insignificantly
corroded. Very fine.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156646
Source Baldwin's Auctions Ltd Auction 42
(26.09.2005) Lot 282 ( « | » )
Price 440 GBP (~781 USD) Description ROMAN COINS
Imperial Silver Vespasian (AD 69-79) No.: 282
Estimate: £ 300 Vespasian, Sestertius 24.51g, AD
71, laureate head right, rev IVDEA CAPTA, captive
Jewess seated beneath palm tree right, Jew with
hands bound behind his back left, arms in field
(RIC 424). Some corrosion, good fine. £300-400
bought Sotheby, 8 July 1898.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156649
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Mail Bid Sale 70 (21.09.2005) Lot 753 (
« | » ) Description VESPASIAN. 69-79
AD. Æ Sestertius (27.82 g, 7h). Judaea Capta
issue. Rome mint. Struck 71 AD. Estimate $2000
VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (27.82 g, 7h).
Judaea Capta issue. Rome mint. Struck 71 AD.
Laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, palm tree; to
left, Jew standing right, hands bound behind; to
right, Jewess, in attitude of mourning, seated
right on cuirass; shields scattered around. RIC II
424; Hendin 773; BMCRE 533 corr. (no spear before
Jewess); Cohen 232. VF, mottled brown patina,
minor smoothing. ($2000).
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156735
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.
Auction Triton V (15.01.2002) Lot 1913 (
« | » ) Price 1000 USD Description
VESPASIAN Estimate $500 VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ
Sestertius (26.67 gm). "Judaea Capta" issue.
Struck 71 AD. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P
COS III, laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, S C
in exergue, Jewess in attitude of mourning, seated
right beneath palm tree; to left, captive Jew with
hands tied behind back standing right; captured
weapons behind. RIC II 424; BMCRE -; BN 489-491;
Cohen 232. Good Fine, brown patina. ($500) From
the Robert Schonwalter Collection. Information
with the coin states that it was purchased from
Worner List 1, no. 394, in January 1951.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156736
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Triton V (15.01.2002) Lot 1915 ( «
| » ) Price 22000 USD Description VESPASIAN
Estimate $20000 VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius
(26.94 gm). "Judaea Capta" issue. Struck 71 AD.
IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III,
laureate head right / IVDEA CAPTA, S C in exergue,
Jewess in attitude of mourning, seated right
beneath palm tree; to left, captive Jew with hands
tied behind back standing right; captured weapons
behind. RIC II 424 note; BMCRE -; BN 489-491 var.
(JVDAEA); Cohen 232 var. (same). EF, green-black
patina, light porosity. Amongst the finest known!
[See color plate 13] ($20,000).
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=158783
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Mail Bid Sale 66 (19.05.2004) Lot 1400 (
« | » ) Price 1400 USD Description
VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (24.64 gm).
Judaea Capta issue. Rome mint. Struck 71 AD.
Estimate $1500 VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius
(24.64 gm). Judaea Capta issue. Rome mint. Struck
71 AD. Laureate head right / Jewess, in attitude
of mourning, seated right on cuirass under palm
tree; to left, Jew standing right with his hands
tied behind his back; arms to left. RIC II 424;
Hendin 773; BMCRE 533; Cohen 232. VF, brown and
green patina, smoothed. ($1500).
Sebbene la
moneta sia piuttosto comune, essa presenta
valutazioni elevate sul mercato numismatico per il
richiamo alle vicende storiche a cui si collega
(la conquista romana della Palestina e l'inizio
della diaspora del popolo ebraico). Ciò premesso,
devo aggiungere che, al di là delle
caratteristiche fisiche un po' difformi rispetto
ai conî d'epoca, l'esemplare in esame presenta
tratti stilistici che destano perplessità (mi
riferisco in particolare al ritratto di Vespasiano
sul dritto). Alla luce di ciò, pur nei limiti di
una valutazione a distanza, esprimo forti
perplessità sull'autenticità della moneta.
Un
saluto cordiale.
Giulio De
Florio
--------------------------
Note:
(1) Sesterzio (oricalco). BMC II
fornisce il peso medio dei sesterzi di
Vespasiano: 25,84g (media su 105 esemplari).
Raccolgo in tabella le caratteristiche fisiche
dei sesterzi della tipologia di figura
tratte dai link di cui sopra:
Riferimenti |
Peso
(g.) |
Diametro
(mm) |
Asse
di conio (h) |
Link1 |
27,10 |
36 |
- |
Link2 |
24,55 |
35 |
- |
Link3 |
24,13 |
35 |
7 |
Link4 |
25,34 |
39 |
- |
Link5 |
25,77 |
- |
6 |
Link6 |
30,58 |
- |
6 |
Link7 |
27,44 |
- |
- |
Link8 |
27,02 |
- |
- |
Link9 |
26,82 |
- |
6 |
Link10 |
24,75 |
35 |
- |
Link11 |
26,94 |
- |
- |
Link12 |
26,56 |
32 |
- |
Link13 |
27,30 |
- |
7 |
Link14 |
27,67 |
- |
6 |
Link15 |
27,00 |
- |
- |
Link16 |
24,00 |
35 |
- |
Link17 |
24,51 |
- |
- |
Link18 |
27,82 |
- |
7 |
Link19 |
26,67 |
- |
- |
Link20 |
26,94 |
- |
- |
Link21 |
24,64 |
- |
- |
Da quanto
premesso si evince che il sesterzio di figura
presenta caratteristiche fisiche (17g, 29mm, 7h)
un po' anomale rispetto a quelle dei conî d'epoca.
(2) Il 71 è l'anno del terzo consolato
di Vespasiano (COS III appunto) ma anche l'anno in
cui celebrò, insieme col figlio Tito, il trionfo
nella guerra giudaica ed elevò a Roma un grandioso
tempio alla Pace.
(3) Nella determinazione del categorico
in premessa si è fatto uso della numerazione
riportata nella vecchia edizione del RIC II (ed.
1926, ristampata nel 1968). Nella nuova
edizione del RIC (ed. dic. 2007) la
numerazione attribuita alla moneta è stata
modificata in RIC II 159 pag.71 mentre l'indice di
frequenza è diventato "C3" (v. nel link
la nuova tabella delle frequenze).
(4) IMPerator CAESar VESPASIANus
AVGustus Pontifex Maximus Tribunicia Potestate
COnSul III. Per il profilo storico di questo
imperatore si rimanda alla voce relativa
dell'Enciclopedia Treccani (v. link).
(5) IVDAEA CAPTA - Conquistata la
Giudea, sembra il titolo di testa di un giornale
che annuncia una vittoria militare. La simbologia
è trasparente, la palma rappresenta la Giudea, la
terra conquistata, la donna in lutto seduta su una
corazza è la nazione vinta ed il prigioniero, uno
dei tanti, è un Giudeo ridotto in schiavitù. |