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Vespasianus



1. History
2. Coinage
2.1. Some general notes
2.2. The Types
2.3. Coins


1. Biography

Titus Flavius Vespasianus, born on November 17th 9 AD close to Retae in Sabinum, was the son of Flavius Sabinus, a member of the knight′s class. Already at the age of about 20 years, Vespasian started his successful political career, as he was tribunus militum in Thrace. Later he was provincial Quaestor for Crete and Cyrenaica (35-36?), Aedil (38), Praetor (39/40), Legate of the Legio II Augusta (42/3-47), Suffect Consul (51), Proconsul in Africa (ca. 63-64) and Comes Neronis in Achaia (66-67). In 67 AD, he took charge over the three legions destined to suppress the Jewis revolt. While he was still operating in Iudaea, the Year of the Four Emperors brought unrest and civil war to the Empire. Vespasian first supported Galba and Otho, but after Vitellius made himself Emperor, Vespasian, supported by the Egyptian prefect Tiberius Iulius Alexander, was made emperor by the eastern legions. Before he himself could march on Rome, the Danubian legions, who declared themselves for him, invaded Italy and killed Vitellius. Vespasian now was the undisputed ruler of the Empire.
The new princeps soon proved to be a pragmatic and capable emperor. He limited the number of the legions, reorganised the finances and conducted a successful foreign policy. His son and heir Titus brought the Jewish revolt to an end by capturing and sacking Jerusalem in 70 AD. In Germany, Vespasian annexed the agri decimates to shorten the frontier, while he also initialized the final conquest of Britain. Today, he is better known for setting the foundations of the amphiteatrum flavium (the Colosseum) and for his striking quotations like pecunia non olet (money does not stink). There can be no doubt Vespasian was one of the most capable Roman Emperors and he inherited his sons a well organized Empire after his death on June 23rd 79 AD.


2. Coinage

2.1. Some general notes

One characteristic point for the coinage of Vespasian is the ongoing centralization of the mints during his reign. All in total, the following mints issued coins:

Rome: 69-79, all metals and denominations
Lugdunum: 70-72, all metals and denominations. 77-78, only Sestertii, Dupondii and Asses
Spain, probably two different uncertain mints: 69-70, all metals and denominations
Uncertain early military mints:
   - Group 1: Moesia, 69-70, Aurei and Denarii
   - Group 2: uncertain western mint, 69-70, only Denarii
   - Groups 3-5: uncertain mints, 69-71, Aurei and Denarii
Ephesus: 70-74, Aurei, Denarii and Cistophors
Later Asia Minor mint (Ephesus?): 76, only Denarii
Later Asia Minor mint (Ephesus?): 77-78, only AE
Egypt, Judaea and Syria:
   - Group 1: Alexandria (?), 69-70, only Aurei
   - Group 2: Judaea, 70, Aurei
   - Group 3: Antiochia, 70, Aurei and Denarii
   - Group 4: Antiochia, 72 (?)-73, mainly Aurei
   - Group 5: Antiochia, 72, Denarii
"For Syria" (Aurichalcum from the Rome mint): 74, only AE


2.2. Portrait

The portraiture of Vespasian is very honest and realistic: it shows an aged, brawny and bull-necked head with a striking chin and a typical Roman hook-nose. There are stylistic differences between the mints, but apart from the earliest, Vitellius-looking portraits the image of Vespasian does not change a lot during his ten year reign.

Different portraits of Vespasianus.
Rome Ephesos


2.3. The Types

Apart from the standard types like Pax and Vesta, Vespasian issued a lot of propagandistic coins relating to the Judaean campaigns. We encounter the victorious emperor, the mourning Judaea and triumphal quadrigae. Another remarkable appearance are dynastical types copying earlier prototypes and proclaiming a secured succession of the throne.

Sesterius of Vespasian, Rome mint, with IVDAEA CAPTA reverse legend. The image shows a mourning Iudaea and a Jew with bound hands, two heap of weapons and a palm tree.
Denarius of Vespasian, Ephesus mint, on the reverse the two Caesares Titus and Domitian, surrounded by the legend LIBERI IMP AVG VESPAS.


2.4. Coins


Legend-combinations alphabetically sortedAll legends

ObverseReverse
CAES AVG F DOMIT COS II
CAES AVG F DOMIT COS III
CAES AVG F DOMIT COS IIII
CAES AVG F DOMITI COS III
CAES AVG F DOMITIAN COS II
CAES AVG F DOMITIANVS
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS III
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS IV
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS V
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS VI
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS DES II
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS II
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS IIII
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS V
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI
CAESAR AVG FIL DOMITIANVS COS V
CAESAR AVGVSTI F
CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG F
CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG
DOMITIANVS CAESAR AVG F
IMP CAES AVG VESPAS COS II TR POT
IMP CAES VES AVG
IMP CAES VESP AVG CEN
IMP CAES VESP AVG CENS
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII CE
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII CEN
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII CENS
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS V CENS
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS III CENS
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS IIII CENS
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS V CENS
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS VI
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS VII
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS VIII
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P P P COS IIII CENS
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII
IMP CAES VESPAS AVG
IMP CAES VESPAS AVG P M TR P IIII P P COS IIII
IMP CAES VESPAS AVG P M TR P P P COS III
IMP CAES VESPAS AVG P M TR P P P COS IIII
IMP CAES VESPAS AVG P M TR P P V COS IIII
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS IIII
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS VIII P P
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M T P P P COS II
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M T P P P COS II D III
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P COS IIII
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS IIII
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS V CENS
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS VI
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS VII
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS VIIII
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR POT P P COS III
IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P P COS IIII
IMP CAES VESPASIAN COS VIII
IMP CAES VESPASIANVS AVG
IMP CAES VESPASIANVS AVG COS III
IMP CAES VESPASIANVS AVG P M T P P P COS III
IMP CAESAR
IMP CAESAR AVG VESPASIAN
IMP CAESAR AVG VESPASIANVS
IMP CAESAR AVG VIISPAS•SIAN
IMP CAESAR VESP AVG
IMP CAESAR VESP AVG CENSOR
IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS V CEN
IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS V CENS
IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS VI
IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS VII
IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS VIII
IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG
IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS II TR P P P
IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS III TR P P P
IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS IIII TR P P P
IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS V TR P P P
IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS V TR P P P º
IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG
IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG COS III
IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG COS IIII
IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG P M TR POT P P COS III
IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVGVST
IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN COS VIII
IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN COS VIIII
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AV
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG COS III
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG COS IX
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG COS VII
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG COS VIII
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M T P P P COS II DES III
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M T P P P COS III
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M TR P
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG TR P
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVGVS
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVGVST
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVGVSTV
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVGVSTVS
IMP T CAESAR COS III
IMP VESP AVG COS VII
IMP VESP AVG COS VIII
IMP VESP AVG COS VIIII
IMP VESP CAES AVG PONT MAX TRIB POT COS IIII
IMP VESPASIAN AVG
IMP VESPASIANVS COS VIII
IMPERATOR T CAESAR AVGVSTI E
IMPERATOR T CAESAR AVGVSTI F
T CAES IMP AVG F PON TR P COS VI CENSOR
T CAES IMP AVG F TR P COS VI CENSOR
T CAES IMP PON TR P COS II CENS
T CAES IMP PON TR P COS III CENS
T CAES IMP PON TR P COS VI CENSOR
T CAES IMP VESP CEN
T CAES IMP VESP CENS
T CAES IMP VESP P TR P CENS
T CAES IMP VESP PON TR POT
T CAES IMP VESP PON TR POT CENS
T CAES VESP IMP PON TR POT COS II CENS
T CAES VESPAS IMP P TR P COS II
T CAES VESPAS IMP PON TR POT COS II
T CAES VESPASIAN IMP P TR P COS II
T CAES VESPASIAN IMP P TR P COS VI
T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS
T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS II
T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS III CENS
T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS V
T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS VI
T CAESAR
T CAESAR IMP COS II CENS
T CAESAR IMP COS III CENS
T CAESAR IMP COS IIII
T CAESAR IMP COS V
T CAESAR IMP COS VI
T CAESAR IMP PONT
T CAESAR IMP TR P COS VI
T CAESAR IMP VESP
T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN
T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS
T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS COS IIII
T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS COS V
T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS COS VI
T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS COS VII
T CAESAR IMPEP PONT
T CAESAR IMPER PONT
T CAESAR VESPASIAN IMP III PON TR POT II COS II
T CAESAR VESPASIAN IMP IIII PON TR POT II COS II
T CAESAR VESPASIAN IMP IIII PON TR POT III COS II
T CAESAR VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS II
T CAESAR VESPASIANVS
T CAESAR VESPASIANVS TR P COS VI
T CAESAR VESPASIANVS TR P COS VII
VESPASIANVS CAESAR AVGVS
(No legend)
AEQVITAS AVGSTI S C
AEQVITAS AVGVS S C
AEQVITAS AVGVST S C
AEQVITAS AVGVSTI S C
AETERNITAS
AETERNITAS AVGVSTI S C
AETERNITAS P R S C
ANNONA AVG
ANNONA AVGVST S C
AVG
AVGVR PON MAX
AVGVR TRI POT
AVGVSTI VICTORIA S C
CAES AVG F COS DESIG IMP AVG F COS DESIG ITR
CAES AVG F DES IMP AVG F COS DES IT S C
CAES AVG F DES IMP AVG F COS DES ITE S C
CAES AVG F DES IMP AVG F COS DES ITER S C
CAES AVG F DESIG IMP AVG F COS DESIG ITE S C
CAES AVG F DESIG IMP AVG F COS DESIG ITER S C
CAESAR AVG F COS CAESAR AVG F PR
CAESAR AVG F COS CAESAR AVG F PR S C
CAESAR AVG F DES IMP AVG F COS DES II S C
CAESAR AVG F DES IMP AVG F COS DES IT S C
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II
CAESAR DOMITIAN COS DES II S C
CAESAR DOMITIAN COS II S C
CAESER DOMITIAN COS DES II S C
CAPTA IVDAEA S C
CERES AVG S C
CERES AVGVST
CERES AVGVST S C
CERES AVGVSTA S C
COM ASIA
CONCOR AVG S C
CONCORDIA AVG
CONCORDIA AVG S C
CONCORDIA AVGVSTI
CONCORDIA AVGVSTI S C
CONCORDIA SENATVI S C
CONGIAR PRIMVM PR DAT S C
CONSEN EXERCIT
CONSENSVS EXERCITVS
CONSENSVS EXERCITVVM
CONSESVS EXERCIT
COS DESIG III TR POT
COS DESIG III TR POT S C
COS III
COS III FORT RED
COS III TR POT
COS IIII
COS ITER
COS ITER FORT RED
COS ITER FORT RED S C
COS ITER TR POT
COS ITER TR POT S C
COS TR POT
COS V
COS V PRINC IVVENT S C
COS V PRINCEPS IVVENTVT S C
COS VI
COS VII
COS VIII
COS VIIII
DE IVDAEIS
DEVICTA IVDAEA S C
DOMITIANVS COS II
EX S C OB CIV SER
EXSERCITVS MOESICVS
FELICITAS PVBLIC S C
FELICITAS PVBLICA S C
FIDES EXERCITVVM S C
FIDES IVBI
FIDES PVBI
FIDES PVBL
FIDES PVBLIC S C
FIDES PVBLICA
FIDES PVBLICA S C
FORTVNA AVGVST
FORTVNA REDVCI S C
FORTVNAE REDVCI S C
FORTVNAE VICTRICI
GENIVM P R
GENIVS P R
HISPANIA
HONOS ET VIRTVS S C
IMP
IMP AVG F COS DESIGN II CAESAR AVG F COS DESIG
IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS IIII CENS
IMP III
IMP V P P COS II DESIG III
IMP V P P COS II DESIG III FORT RED S C
IMP V P P COS II DESIG III S C
IMP VESP
IMP XIII
IMP XIIII
IMP XIX
IMPER
IMPERATOR CAESAR S C
ION MAX TR P COS V
ION MAX TR P COT II
IOVIS CVSTOS
IVD CAPTA S C
IVDAEA
IVDAEA CAPTA
IVDAEA CAPTA S C
IVDAEA DEVICTA
IVDAEA S C
IVDEA CAPTA S C
LIBERI IMP AVG VESPAS
LIBERTAS AVGVSTI S C
LIBERTAS PVBLICA
LIBERTAS PVBLICA S C
LIBERTAS RESTITVTA S C
MARS CONSERV
MARS VICTOR S C
MARS VLTOR
MARS VLTOR S C
NEP RED
OB CIVIS SERVATOS
P M T P P P COS IIII S C
P M TR P P P COS III S C
P M TR P P P COS IIII S C
P M TR P P P COS V S C
P M TR P P P COS VI
P M TR P P P COS VII
P M TR P P P COS VII S C
P M TR P P P COS VIII S C
PACI AVGVSTAE
PACI AVGVSTI
PACI ORB TERR AVG
PACIS EVENT
PACIS EVENTVM
PAX
PAX AVG
PAX AVG S C
PAX AVGVST
PAX AVGVST S C
PAX AVGVSTA S C
PAX AVGVSTI S C
PAX ORBIS TERRARVM S C
PAX P ROMANI S C
PAXS AVGVSTI S C
PAXX AVGVSTI S C
PON M TR P P P COS III S C
PON MAX
PON MAX TR P COS IIII
PON MAX TR P COS V
PON MAX TR P COS VI
PON MAX TR P COS VII
PON MAX TR P P P COS VIII CENS S C
PON MAX TR POT P P COS V CENS
PONT MAX TR POT P P COS VIII CENS S C
PONTIF MAXIM
PONTIF TR P COS III
PONTIF TR P COS IIII
PONTIF TR P COS V
PONTIF TR POT
PONTIF TRI POT
PRINCEPS IVVENTVT
PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS
PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS S C
PRINCIP IVENT S C
PRINCIP IVVENT S C
PRINCIPS IVVENTVT
PRINCPS IVVENTVTIS
PROVID S C
PROVIDE S C
PROVIDEN S C
PROVIDENT S C
ROMA
ROMA ET AVGVSTVS COS ITERVM TRIBVN POT S C
ROMA PERPETVA
ROMA RENASC
ROMA RESVRGENS
ROMA RESVRGES S C
ROMA S C
ROMA VICTRIX S C
S C
S P Q R
S P Q R ADSERTORI LIBERTATIS PVBLIC
S P Q R ADSERTORI LIBERTATIS PVBLICAE
S P Q R OB C S
S P Q R OB CIV SER
S P Q R OB CIVES SERVAT
S P Q R OB CIVES SERVATOS
S P Q R P P OB C S
S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS
SALVS AVG
SALVS AVGVSTA S C
SALVS AVGVSTI S C
SECVRITAS AVGVSTI S C
SECVRITAS P R
SECVRITAS P ROMANI S C
SIGNIS RECEPTIS S C
SPES AVGVSTA S C
T DOM CAE VESPASIANI AVGVSTI FILI
T ET DOM C EX S C
T ET DOM CAESARES PRINC IVVEN S C
T ET DOMITIAN CAESARES PRIN IVVENT S C
T ET DOMITIANVS CAESA S C
T IMP AVG F COS II CAESAR DOMITIAN AVG F COS DESIG II S C
T IMP AVG F COS II CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG F COS DESG II S C
T IMP CAESAR COS DES II CAESAR DOMIT COS DES II S C
TITVS CAESAR AVG F COS DOMITIAN CAESAR AVG F PR S C
TITVS ET D CAESAR VESPASIANVS S C
TITVS ET DOMITIAN CAES PRIN IV
TITVS ET DOMITIAN CAES PRIN IVVEN
TITVS ET DOMITIAN CAESARES PRIN IVEN
TITVS ET DOMITIANVS CAESAR PRIN IVEN
TITVS ET DOMITIANVS CAESARES PRIN IVEN
TITVS ET DOMITIANVS PRIN IV
TITVS ET DOMITIANVS PRIN IVV
TITVS ET DOMITIANVS PRINC IVVEN
TR POT COS III
TR POT COS III CENSOR
TR POT COS VI CENSOR S C
TR POT VIII COS VII
TR POT X COS VIIII
TRI POT
TRI POT II COS III P P
TRIVMP AVG
TVTELA AVGVSTI S C
VESP AVG
VESP AVG FILI CAESARES
VESPASIANVS
VESTA
VESTA S C
VIC AVG
VICT AVG
VICTOPIA IMR VESPASIANI
VICTOR AVGVSTI S C
VICTORIA AVG S C
VICTORIA AVGVST
VICTORIA AVGVST S C
VICTORIA AVGVSTA S C
VICTORIA AVGVSTI
VICTORIA AVGVSTI S C
VICTORIA IMP VESPASIANI
VICTORIA MP VESPASIANI
VICTORIA NAVALIS S C
VIRTVS AVGVST
(No legend)