Vespasian Denarius 69-70 CE

Vespasian, 69-79. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.11 g, 1 h), Ephesus,

69-70.

Obv:IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG Laureate head of Vespasian to right.

Rev: LIBERI IMP AVG VESPAS Titus and Domitian, veiled and togate, standing front, each with patera. BMC 430. Cohen 248.

RIC 1395. RPC II 805. Rare.

Minor marks and slightly rough, otherwise, about very fine. From the R. Marbacher Collection, Switzerland. Leu Numismatic December 09 2018 Lot 908

When this one came up for sale I knew I wanted it. According to an expert on Flavian coinage, this is the 3rd example known. However, OCRE has 2 and the expert has one so this might be the 4th known. Regardless I am very excited to add this coin to my collection. I wanted this coin for 2 reasons. First I wanted a dynastic issue and second I like the denarii of Ephesus.

This is one of several Ephesian denarii I have for Vespasian. I am finding myself attracted to these issues because of the very interesting portraits on the obverses.The style of these Ephesian denarii is unmistakable and very attractive to me. There is something special about the way the portraits were engraved and this example is no different. I have become very interested in the placement of or the lack of symbols appearing on these coins. Some coins have no mintmark while others do have one which can take several forms. I find the inner working of the mint fascinating and I wonder what the thinking process was for including or not including a mintmark as well as for whether to include one at all.