Roman Silver & Bronze - Imperial - Augustus- Commodus

Lot 2816    SESSION 12 (11.30AM THURSDAY 25TH NOV)    Roman Silver & Bronze - Imperial - Augustus- Commodus

Estimate $200
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $150

VESPASIAN, (A.D. 69-79), AE sestertius, Rome mint, issue of middle of A.D. 71, (23.96 g), obv. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head to right, rev. traces of VICTORIA AVGVSTI, S C in exergue, Victory standing right, foot on helmet, inscribing shield set on palm tree; on right, Judaea seated right, in attitude of mourning, (S.2344, RIC 467, BMC 582, C.624, H.1508). Field rough with faults etc and weak in places, otherwise fine/nearly fine and rare.

Ex Dr L.J. Sherwin Collection, from Geoff K. Gray Sale 24, September 29, 1972 (lot 362 part).
This coin celebrates the quelling of the First Jewish Revolt.
The size of the sestertius afforded the artist great scope for the design and potency of the issue. The value of the orichalcum (brass) sestertius, bright and shiny, gold-like when issued, was one quarter silver denarius or 100 to the gold aureus. Kraay has convincingly argued that the Judaea Capta sestertii with this obverse legend were "closely connected with the triumph of Vespasian and Titus celebrated at the end of June 71".