Lot 4344

Description

Vespasian, (A.D. 69-79), AE sestertius, Rome mint, issue of middle of A.D. 71, (23.68 grams), obv. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head to right, rev. Jewess sits to right below palm, behind emperor in military uniform, with spear etc. S C in exergue, around IVDEA CAPTA (sic), (S.2327, RIC 427 var., BMC 546, C.239 var., H.775, [$2500]). Weak in parts of the obverse legend, porosity and tooling, green patina, otherwise fine - very fine and a very rare variety.

This sestertius is of the largest module of all regularly minted Roman coins. Because of the size, it 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'. A curious feature of this specific coinage is the spelling on the reverse of IVDEA rather than IVDAEA.