Indice Dietro Avanti
Vespasiano e la Giudea conquistata
30.11.2009
Gentilissimo Giulio
Le chiedo chiarimenti su stima e identificazione di una moneta in mio possesso.
Le foto in allegato le mostrano la mia moneta la quale ha le seguenti caratteristiche:
Peso 24/25 g 
Diametro 3,3  cm
Colore giallo scuro con delle piccole zone di marrone scuro in cui e' leggermente dannegiata. Sui contorni si rileva un colorastro verde chiaro .
L' asse e' tra le ore 5 e le ore 6.
A vista la moneta sembra essere di bronzo
Non c'e' la presenza di materiale ferroso accertato con calamita.
Sul diritto della moneta (quella con la testa) è riportata la scritta'' IMPCAESVESPASIAN AVGPMT--PPPCOSIII (DOVE I DUE TATTINI SONO PER LE LETTERE CHE NON RIESCO A DECIFRARE E III ALLA FINE SONO LEGATI DA UN TRATTINO SOPRA CHE LI FANNO SEMBRARE UNA M )
la scritta sul rovescio della moneta e' la seguente'' IVDAEA CAPTA'' con il sotto del rovescio della moneta che riporta la scritta ''S C ''
Dalle informazioni che ho potuto captare dalla rete si tratta di un sesterzio vespasiano Giudea Capta coniato per la conquista di Gerusalemme sotto Flavio Vespasiano e molto
raro . Sarei Felice se potessi ricevere qualche informazione supplementare anche perche' la moneta era stata pulita da mio nonno quando la trovo' facendone a mio avviso venir via la patina.

l' indirizzo e' stato tratto da : http://www.forumancientcoins.com/monetaromana/consulenza.html
Autorizzo l' uso incondizionato delle mie foto .
Le chiedo di riservare l' anonimato ma con la possibilità di pubblicare tutto il resto .
La ringrazio anticipatamente .
Gennaro.
Cordialità
fig. 1
Cliccare sulle immagini per ingrandire
Assemini, 3.12.2009
Egregio Lettore, 
mi ero già occupato in passato di una moneta simile (v. link); ad ogni modo di seguito riporto gli elementi significativi pertinenti alla sua moneta che ho potuto raccogliere: 

Sesterzio1, zecca di Roma, 71 d. C.2, RIC II new edition 159 (pag. 71)3, BMC II 532 (pag. 115), Cohen I 234 (pag. 385), indice di rarità "C3"

Descrizione sommaria:
D. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS 4. Vespasiano, testa 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:

  1. 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, plus buyers fees.
  2. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=2001 ID: 2001 Last change: 25.03.2009 Company Gemini, LLC Auction Auction V (06.01.2009) Lot 804 Price realized 27500 USD Source No longer available! Vespasian. (69-79 AD). Orichalcum sestertius (26.04 gm). Rome, Spring-Summer 71 AD. IMP CAES VESPAS AVG P M TR P P P COS III, head laureate right / IVDAEA CAPTA around, S C in exergue, palm tree, to left bearded Jew with cloak over shoulders standing right, hands tied behind back, behind him two shields and spear with helmet, or helmet-like die break, attached below the spear's tip; to right Jewess, veiled, seated right on cuirass, supporting head with hand in attitude of mourning, a shield protrudes from behind her knees. RIC 233 (C). BMCRE 532. CBN 491. Cohen 233 (8 Fr.). Kraay 505a (this piece, A120/P107). A scarce type in this final issue of the year with VESPAS only in obverse legend: most of Vespasian's Judaea Capta sestertii were struck in the second issue of the year with obverse VESPASIAN. Also remarkable for the extremely large Jewess and for what appears to be the helmet on the spear. Extremely fine. Ex Hess, Lucerne, 207, 1 December 1931, Otto, lot 1004; ex L. Hamburger, 19 October 1925, Niklovits, lot 647. On some dies of this reverse type, for example BMCRE II, pl. 33,1, a helmet rests atop the shields behind the standing Jew. On our die, in contrast, a conical helmet, with a neckguard hanging down behind, might seem to be suspended in mid-air just below the tip of the spear that slants upward behind the Jew! As there are no parallels for helmets suspended from spears in depictions of captured arms, this is probably either artistic license, that is, an aberration of the die engraver, or else merely a die cud that happens to look like a helmet, resulting from a triangular chip of metal and a shallower adjoining rectangular chip (the "neck guard") that broke away from the surface of the die at this point. David Hendin, in a recent article in The Celator, argued that it is indeed a helmet on the spear and identified this as a new Judaea Capta type. Colin Kraay, in the die catalogue of Vespasian's sestertii of 71 in his unpublished Oxford dissertation of 1953, knew this reverse die in combination with four obverse dies, one with VESPASIAN in the obverse legend, plus our obverse die and two others with just VESPAS in the legend. Estimate: US$25000.
  3. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=5274 ID: 5274 Last change: 25.03.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction Triton V (15.01.2002) Lot 1918 Price realized 900 USD Source No longer available! VESPASIAN Estimate $750 VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (24.87 gm). "Judaea Capta" issue. Struck 71 AD. IMP CAES VESPAS 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; arms behind. RIC II 425 var. (captive standing left); BMCRE 539 var. (same); BN 491; Cohen 233. Good VF, black patina, corrosion. ($750) From the Robert Schonwalter Collection. Ex Abraham Bromberg Collection, pt. II (Superior, 10 December 1992), lot 610; Pine Tree Auctions (29 May 1974), lot 479.
  4. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=47280 ID: 47280 Last change: 25.03.2009 Company Stack's Auction The Golden Horn Collection (12.01.2009) Lot 2269 Price realized Unsold or unknown price Source No longer available! Vespasian, 69-79 A.D. Judaea Capta series. Orichalcum Sestertius, 72 A.D. Rome. Laureate head r.; IMP CAES VESPAS AVG PM TRP PP COS IIII. Rv. Jewess seated r. below palm tree mourning, Jew standing r. behind tree, his hands bound; IVDAEA CAPTA. RIC-(cf.RIC 424 for issue of 71 A.D.). Rare. Tan brown over pitting and roughness. Very Fine. (1,200-1,400).
  5. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=51010 ID: 51010 Last change: 25.03.2009 Company Gemini, LLC Auction Auction V (06.01.2009) Lot 805 Price realized 2750 USD Source No longer available! Vespasian. (69-79 AD). Orichalcum sestertius (27.28 gm). Rome, Spring-Summer 71 AD. IMP CAES VESPAS AVG P M TR P P P COS III, head laureate right / IVDAE[A—C]APTA S C, palm tree, to left Jew standing right, hands tied behind back, arms on ground behind him; to right Jewess seated right on cuirass, supporting head with hand in attitude of mourning. RIC 233 (C), pl. 25 (same dies). BMCRE 532. BNC 491, pl. XLIV (same obverse die). Cohen 233 (8 Fr.). Kraay die catalogue 464 (A53/P85). Lovely green patination. Good fine. IVDAEA CAPTA types are scarce in this third and final issue of the year with VESPAS only in obverse legend. Most of Vespasian's Judaea Capta sestertii were struck in the second issue of the year with obverse VESPASIAN. Estimate: US$3000.
  6. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=62225 ID: 62225 Last change: 26.03.2009 Company Heritage Auctions, Inc. Auction Long Beach Signature Sale 3002 (18.09.2008) Lot 20083 Price realized 8000 USD Source No longer available! Vespasian. A.D. 69-79. AE sestertius (34 mm, 26.05 g). Judaea Capta issue. Rome, A.D. 71. Laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, palm tree beneath which on left bound captive standing right, and on right Jewess seated right on cuirass in attitude of mourning; various arms around. RIC 233. Good VF, red-brown patina, well centered. An historically important type. Ex Otto Collection (A. Hess [Lucerne] 207, 1 December 1931 ), 1004; L. Hamburger 76 (19 October 1925), 647. Estimate: 2500.00-3000.00 USD.
  7. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=62330 ID: 62330 Last change: 26.03.2009 Company Heritage Auctions, Inc. Auction Long Beach Signature Sale 3000 (29.05.2008) Lot 50110 Price realized 800 USD Source No longer available! Vespasian. A.D. 69-79. AE sestertius (28 mm, 26.73 g, 6'). Judaea Capta issue. Rome, A.D. 71. Laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, palm tree beneath which Jewess seated on cuirass right in attitude of mourning; behind, Jew standing right, hands tied behind his back; pile of arms behind. RIC 159; BMC 532; Cohen 233. VF, brown patina, some strengthening of IVDAEA. Estimate: 800.00-1000.00 USD.
  8. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=62587 ID: 62587 Last change: 26.03.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction Mail Bid Sale 78 (14.05.2008) Lot 1745 Price realized 1300 USD Source No longer available! Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (25.84 g, 6h). "Judaea Capta" issue. Rome mint. Struck AD 71. Laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, S C in exergue, palm tree; to left, captive Jew standing right, hands bound behind back; to right, Jewess seated right in attitude of mourning; arms scattered around. RIC II 159; Hendin 773. Near VF, brown patina, brassy highlights. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 46 (24 June 1998), lot 1202. Estimate: 1000 USD.
  9. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=75151 ID: 75151 Last change: 26.03.2009 Company Stack's Auction Tallent & Belzberg Collections (24.04.2008) Lot 2222 Price realized 320 USD Source No longer available! JUDAEA CAPTA. Vespasian, 69-79 A.D. Sestertius, 71 A.D. Rome. Laureate head r., IMP. [CAES.] VESPASIAN. AVG. P.M. [TR.P. P.P. COS.III]. Rv. Judaea seated r. in mourning to r. of palm tree, captive Jew with hands tied behind his back to l., IVDAEA CAPTA [S.C.]. RIC 424, Hendin 773. Red brown and green patina, rough about the periphery. Clear types. Fine or nearly so. (400-600).
  10. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=96922 ID: 96922 Last change: 27.03.2009 Company Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction Auction 40 (16.05.2007) Lot 312 Price realized 2400 CHF (~1970 USD) Source No longer available! 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.
  11. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=96923 ID: 96923 Last change: 27.03.2009 Company Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction Auction 40 (16.05.2007) Lot 313 Price realized Unsold or unknown price Source No longer available! 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.
  12. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=96924 ID: 96924 Last change: 27.03.2009 Company Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction Auction 40 (16.05.2007) Lot 314 Price realized Unsold or unknown price Source No longer available! 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.
  13. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=96925 ID: 96925 Last change: 27.03.2009 Company Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction Auction 40 (16.05.2007) Lot 315 Price realized Unsold or unknown price Source No longer available! Roman coins related to Judaea The Roman Empire, Vespasian 69 – 79 No.: 315 Estimate: CHF 5000 d=35 mm Sestertius, Roma 71, æ 23.79 g. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III Laureate head r. Rev. CAPTA – IVDAEA 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 –. BMC –. C – CBN –. Hendin –. An apparently unrecorded variety of a rare type. Tiber tone and rough surface, otherwise very fine.
  14. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=111739 ID: 111739 Last change: 28.03.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction Mail Bid Sale 72 (14.06.2006) Lot 1413 Price realized 5500 USD Source No longer available! Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (26.99 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 71. Laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, palm tree; to right, Jewess, in attitude of mourning, seated right on helmet, 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. VF, green and red-brown patina. Excellent detail on reverse. Estimate: $3000.
  15. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=119491 ID: 119491 Last change: 29.03.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction Triton V (15.01.2002) Lot 1914 Price realized 625 USD Source No longer available! VESPASIAN Estimate $500 VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (26.30 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 left beneath palm tree; to right, captive Jew with hands tied behind back standing left; captured weapons behind. RIC II 426; BMCRE 542; BN 494; Cohen 238. Good Fine, reddish brown patina, spotty surfaces, roughness on reverse. ($500) From the Robert Schonwalter Collection. Information with the coin states that it was purchased from Edward Gans on 23 April 1951. The Gans ticket has a price of $8.
  16. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=124533 ID: 124533 Last change: 29.03.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction Triton VIII (11.01.2005) Lot 1115 Price realized 1600 USD Source No longer available! 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).
  17. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=132214 ID: 132214 Last change: 30.03.2009 Company Stack's Auction Coin Galleries December 2007 (18.12.2007) Lot 377 Price realized 1850 USD Source No longer available! Vespasian, 69-79 A.D. Sestertius, 71 A.D. Rome. Laureate head r., IMP. CAES. VESPAS. AVG. P.M. TR.P. P.P. COS.III. Rv. Judaea seated in mourning to r. of palm tree, standing male captive to l. with hands tied behind his back, arms to l. and r.; IVDAEA [CAPTA S.C.]. RIC 424. Heavy dark olive brown and green patina, smoothed. Excellent portrait and historic reverse type. Nice Very Fine. (1,500-2,000).
  18. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=148817 ID: 148817 Last change: 31.03.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction Triton IX (10.01.2006) Lot 1415 Price realized 6000 USD Source No longer available! 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.
  19. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=148856 ID: 148856 Last change: 31.03.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction Triton VIII (11.01.2005) Lot 1007 Price realized 21000 USD Source No longer available! 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.
  20. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156616 ID: 156616 Last change: 31.03.2009 Company Stack's Auction Coin Galleries February 2007 (21.02.2007) Lot 134 Price realized Unsold or unknown price Source No longer available! JUDAEA CAPTA SERIES. Vespasian, 69-79 A.D. Sestertius, 71 A.D. Rome. Laureate head r., IMP. CAES. VESPAS. AVG. P.M. TR.P. P.P. COS.III. Rv. Judaea seated in mourning to r. of palm tree, standing male captive to l. with hands tied behind his back, arms to l. and r.; IVDAEA [CAPTA S.C.]. RIC 424. Dark olive brown and green patina, tooled. Excellent portrait and historic reverse type. Nice Very Fine. (1,250-1,500).
  21. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156649 ID: 156649 Last change: 31.03.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction Mail Bid Sale 70 (21.09.2005) Lot 753 Price realized Unsold or unknown price Source No longer available! 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) Ex Coin Galleries (21 July 1982), lot 132.
  22. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156670 ID: 156670 Last change: 31.03.2009 Company Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH Auction Mail Bid Sale 8 (01.10.2004) Lot 346 Price realized 1400 EUR (~1735 USD) Source No longer available! Vespasianus - Domitianus Vespasianus 69-79 Sesterz (26,02 g), Rom 71. Av.: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM TR PPP COS III, belorbeerter Kopf rechts. Rv.: IVDAEA CAPTA, unter Palme mit zwei Früchten steht Jüdin nach rechts und ein an den Händen gefesselter Jude. RIC:425, C:236; grünbraune Patina, Rv. etwas korrodiert f.vzgl./s.sch. Estimate: EUR 1300.
  23. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156678 ID: 156678 Last change: 31.03.2009 Company Heritage Auctions, Inc. Auction Long Beach Signature Sale 357 (09.09.2004) Lot 12184 Price realized 1400 USD Source No longer available! 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.
  24. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156682 ID: 156682 Last change: 31.03.2009 Company Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH Auction Auction 73 (17.05.2004) Lot 585 Price realized Unsold or unknown price Source No longer available! Vespasianus - Nerva Vespasianus 69-79 Sesterz (26,02 g), Rom 71. Av.: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM TR PPP COS III, belorbeerter Kopf rechts. Rv.: IVDAEA CAPTA, unter Palme mit zwei Früchten steht Jüdin nach rechts und ein an den Händen gefesselter Jude. RIC:425, C:236; grünbraune Patina, Rv. etwas korrodiert f.vzgl./s.sch. Estimate: EUR 1500.
  25. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156689 ID: 156689 Last change: 31.03.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction Triton VII (12.01.2004) Lot 889 Price realized 2000 USD Source No longer available! 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).
  26. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156724 ID: 156724 Last change: 31.03.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction Mail Bid Sale 60 (22.05.2002) Lot 1582 Price realized 800 USD Source No longer available! VESPASIAN Estimate $500 VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (25.77 gm). "Judaea Capta" issue. Struck 71 AD. Laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, Jewess, in attitude of mourning, seated right at base of palm tree; Jew standing behind with hands tied behind back. RIC II 424; BMCRE 533; Brin 41; Cohen 233. Near VF, brown patina, light porosity. ($500).
  27. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=156735 ID: 156735 Last change: 31.03.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction Triton V (15.01.2002) Lot 1913 Price realized 1000 USD Source No longer available! 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.
  28. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=239308 ID: 239308 Last change: 12.04.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction - Lot - Price realized 975 USD Source Link 732440. Sold For $975 VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (27.77 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 seated right, beneath palm tree, mourning; behind palm Jew standing right, hands tied behind his back, pile of arms at left ; RIC II 427; BMCRE 543ff; Brin 45; Cohen 239. VF, slightly porous, brown patina. $975.
  29. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=241680 ID: 241680 Last change: 12.04.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction - Lot - Price realized 3250 USD Source Link 734747. Sold For $3250 VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. AE Sestertius (31mm, 24.13 gm). Rome mint. "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, mourning Judaea seated before palm, Jewish man standing right with hands bound behind back, arms around. RIC II 424; Hendin 773; Cohen 234. Nice VF, even, dark olive patina.
  30. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=249844 ID: 249844 Last change: 12.04.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction - Lot - Price realized 880 USD Source Link 101, Lot: 116. Estimate $300. Sold for $880. VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 25.74 gm). Judaea Capta issue. Rome mint. Struck 71 AD. Laureate head right / IVDAEA [CAP]TA, Jewess seated right under palm tree, mourning; behind, Jew standing right with his hands tied behind his back; arms around. RIC II 424; Hendin 773; Cohen 232. Fine, green patina, a little rough.
  31. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=253816 ID: 253816 Last change: 13.04.2009 Company Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction - Lot - Price realized 1100 USD Source Link 113, Lot: 259. Estimate $500. Sold for $1100. VESPASIAN. 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 25.08 gm). Judaea Capta issue. Rome mint. Struck 71 AD. Laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, Jewess seated right under palm tree, mourning; behind, Jew standing right with his hands tied behind his back; arms around. RIC II 424; Hendin 773; Cohen 232. Good Fine, green patina, some smoothing.
  32. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=365695 ID: 365695 Last change: 09.11.2009 Company Stack's Auction August 2009 Coin Galleries Sale (18.08.2009) Lot 4293 Price realized 450 USD Source Link Vespasian, A.D. 69-79. Æ Sestertius. Judaea Capta issue. Rome, A.D. 71. Laureate head of Vespasian right. Rv. IVDAEA CAPTA, palm tree flanked by bound captive standing right and weeping personification of Judaea seated right; to left and right, piles of arms. 24.01 grams. RIC 165. BMC 533. BN 494-6. Hendin 773. Cohen 234. Dark green patina with some porosity. Fine. (200-300).
  33. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=365702 ID: 365702 Last change: 09.11.2009 Company Stack's Auction August 2009 Coin Galleries Sale (18.08.2009) Lot 4300 Price realized 950 USD Source Link Vespasian, A.D. 69-79. Orichalcum Sestertius. Judaea Capta issue. Rome, A.D. 72. Laureate head r.; IMP CAES VESPAS AVG PM TRP PP COS IIII. Rv. Jewess seated r. below palm tree mourning, Jew standing r. behind tree, his hands bound; IVDAEA CAPTA. RIC-(cf.RIC 424 for issue of 71 A.D.). Rare. Tan brown over pitting and roughness. Very Fine. (1,000-1,100).
  34. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=370023 ID: 370023 Last change: 13.11.2009 Company Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction Auction 52 (07.10.2009) Lot 369 Price realized 31000 CHF (~29760 USD) Source Link Part I The Roman Empire Vespasian, 69 – 79 Sestertius 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 l. field, pile of arms. In exergue, S C. C 232. BMC 532. RIC 159. CBN 489 (this reverse die). Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Perfectly struck on a full flan with a dark green patina, good extremely fine Ex Triton sale III, 1999, 1033. From the William James Conte collection. 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 in the various provinces, to be destroyed in the theatres by the sword or by wild beasts; those under seventeen were sold."
  35. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=370024 ID: 370024 Last change: 13.11.2009 Company Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction Auction 52 (07.10.2009) Lot 370 Price realized 18000 CHF (~17280 USD) Source Link Part I The Roman Empire Vespasian, 69 – 79 Sestertius 71, Æ 28.74 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. C 232. BMC 533. RIC 159. CBN 490 var. Very rare. A bold portrait and a very attractive green patina, extremely fine / about extremely fine.
Come accennato nella nota 1, le caratteristiche fisiche della moneta in esame sono nella norma. Quanto al resto osservo che le immagini su cui ho potuto lavorare sono scadenti, in particolare la foto del rovescio è sfocata, quella del dritto è flashata e ciò rende problematico il confronto tra lo stile e l'aspetto generale del campione in esame e quello delle monete di riferimento. In assenza della patina antica la valutazione dell'aspetto generale si presenta complicata. A mio avviso, destano perplessità i caratteri della leggenda del dritto così larghi e arrotondati e quei capelli del sovrano quasi scomparsi. Non trovo spiegazione per le tracce di verderame ad ore 8-9 del rovescio, visto che la moneta è stata sottoposta ad una pulizia i cui residui possono essere individuati nelle macchie di colore amaranto ad ore 10 e ad ore 2-3 del dritto. 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) e ciò rende cauti nell'esprimere un giudizio, forte essendo l'interesse ad un'eventuale falsificazione. Altro non saprei dirle sulla base degli elementi di valutazione che mi sono stati forniti e in assenza di un esame diretto 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)
Link01 26,94 - -
Link02 26,04 - -
Link03 24,87 - -
Link05 27,28 - -
Link06 26,05 34 -
Link07 26,73 28 6
Link08 25,84 - 6
Link10 27,67 36 -
Link11 27,10 36 -
Link12 24,55 35 -
Link13 23,79 35 -
Link14 26,99 - 6
Link15 26,30 - -
Link18 24,13 - 7
Link19 25,77 - 6
Link21 27,82 - 7
Link22 26,02 - -
Link23 27,44 34 -
Link24 26,02 - -
Link25 27,02 - -
Link26 25,77 - -
Link27 26,67 - -
Link28 25,77 - -
Link29 24,13 31 -
Link30 25,74 34 -
Link31 25,08 34 -
Link32 24,01 - -
Link34 27,67 - -
Link35 28,74 - -
Da quanto premesso si evince che il sesterzio di figura presenta caratteristiche fisiche (24-25g, 33mm, 5-6h) nella norma.
(2) Il 71 è l'anno del terzo consolato di Vespasiano (COS III appunto) ma anche l'anno in cui celebrò, insieme con il 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 nuova edizione del RIC II (ed. dic. 2007). Nella vecchia edizione  del RIC II (ed. 1926, ristampata nel 1968) la catalogazione attribuita alla moneta era RIC II 424 (pag. 68), mentre l'indice di frequenza era "S".
(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, rappresenta un soldato ridotto in schiavitù. 
Indice Dietro Avanti