Vespasian AR Denarius 71 CE (Group 6)

Vespasian AR Denarius (71 CE Group 6)

3.12 g

Obv: Laureate head right; IMP CAES VESPAS AVG COS III TR P P P

Rev: Ceres std left on ornate high-backed chair , with corn ears and poppy and cornucopiae, EPHE in exergue; CONCORDIA AVG

RIC 1428, RSC 67, BMC 453

Roman Silver Coins from the Michael Kelly Collection

Ex: Spink Numismatic e-Circular 1 - Part I - Ancient Coins featuring the Michael Kelly and Nomos Brasiliana Collections Lot 214. February 13 2020.

Yes, this is another Ephesian denarius of Vespasian. The reason I wanted this one concerns the reverse. Notice the EPHE (for Ephesus) in the emerge on the reverse. I know this is a more common coin than the RIC 1400 I posted last time, but I did not have one with this mintmark so I wanted it.

Though this portrait is radically different than the one on the RIC 1400 I recently posted, it is still unmistakably an issue of Ephesus. Again, I really like that the coin has a provenance linking it to the Michael Kelly collection.

I also find the portrait really interesting. I hope to add more Ephesian denarii.