Index Back Forth
Rome, sestertius, Vespasian and Judaea Capta
23.5.2023
..da Ancient Roman Coins.
Hello!
How much do you think could dmthis vespasian setsertius be worth?
I dont have weight and diameter.
Thanks.
fig. 1
Click the immages to enlarge
Rome, 28.5.2023
Dear,
below I report the significant elements concerning the figure coin:

Sesterce1, mint of Rome, 71 A. D.2, RIC II 466 (page 71), RIC II new edition 216 (page 74)3, BMC II 582  (page 126), Cohen I 624 (page 417), rarity index from Ric II New Ed. "R2"3

Summary description (worn or otherwise illegible parts of the legend are indicated in red):
D. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III4. Vespasian, laureate head right.
R. VI-CTORIA - AVGVSTI5. Victory standing right, left foot on helmet, inscribing shield on palm-tree; to right, Judaea seated right. Inscription content: [OB/CIV/SERV]6. S C7 in exergue.

The search on the web for coins of the type of figure gave rise to the following results:
  1. https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=85184 Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 1416. Estimate $3000. Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2006. Sold For $2200. Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (25.99g, 7h). Judaea Capta issue. Rome mint. Struck AD 71. Laureate head right / Victory standing right, foot on helmet, inscribing shield set on palm tree; to right below, Jewess, in attitude of mourning, seated right. RIC II 466; Hendin 778. VF, green patina, traces of red, lightly smoothed.
  2. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_R-10540 R.10540 sestertius Description Copper alloy coin. Head of Vespasian, laureate, right. Victory standing right, left foot on helmet, inscribing shield on palm-tree; to right, Judaea seated right. Production date 71. Die-axis: Die-axis: 6 o'clock. Weight: 24.34 grammes. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III // VICTORIA AVGVSTI. S C in exergue. Inscription content: [OB / CIV / SERV] Inscription note: on shield. Bibliographic references RE2 / Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, vol.II: Vespasian to Domitian (582, p.126). RIC2.1 / The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol.2 part 1: From AD 69 to AD 96: Vespasian to Domitian (221, p.74).
  3. https://aureocalico.bidinside.com/es/lot/77116/71-dc-vespasiano-sestercio-spink-/ LOTE 3071 - SUBASTA 396 - SUBASTA ONLINE (71 d.C.). Vespasiano. Sestercio. Estimación: 400,00 EUR. Precio de salida (Starting price): 300,00 EUR. (71 d.C.). Vespasiano. Sestercio. (Spink 2344 var) (Co. 621) (RIC. 216). 26,22g. MBC+.
  4. cngcoins Electronic Auction 473 Lot nuber 311 Vespasian. AD 69-79.Struck AD 71. Lot: 311. Estimated: $500. Roman Imperial, Bronze. Sold For $ 2 250. Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 27.54g, 6h). “Judaea Capta” commemorative. Rome mint. Struck AD 71. Laureate head right / VICTORIA AVGVSTI, S C in exergue, Victory standing right, left foot on helmet, inscribing shield with right hand set on palm tree; on right, Judaea seated right, in attitude of mourning. RIC II.1 216; Hendin 1507. Brown and tan surfaces, areas of roughness on obverse. Near VF. From the Toliver Besson Collection, puchased from Moneta at Chicago International, 15 April 2011. Closing Date and Time: 29 July 2020 at 11:43:20 ET.
  5. https://www.arsclassicacoins.com/biddr/#!/auction/lot?a=279&l=918 Auction 106 - Part I (2), lot 918 Bidding finished. Price realized 18'000 CHF. Starting price 12'000 CHF. Estimate
    15'000 CHF. Description Vespasian, 69 – 79. Sestertius 71, Æ 27.12g. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM TR P P P COS III Laureate head r. Rev. VI – C – TORIA – AVGVSTI Judaea seated r. on cuirass in attitude of mourning; behind her, Victory standing r., l. foot on helmet, inscribing on shield set on palm tree; in exergue, S C. C 624. BMC 582. RIC 221. CBN 561. Hendin 1508. Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. A wonderful enamel-like green patina, a light mark on reverse, otherwise extremely fine Ex NAC sale 92, 2016, 510.
  6. cngcoins Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 26.34 g, 6h). “Judaea Capta” commemorative. Rome mint. Struck AD 71. Triton XXV Lot: 829. Estimated: $ 1 000. Roman Imperial, Bronze, Sold For $ 3 500. Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 26.34 g, 6h). “Judaea Capta” commemorative. Rome mint. Struck AD 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head right / VI C TORIA AVGVSTI, S C in exergue, Victory standing right, left foot on helmet, inscribing shield with right hand set on palm tree; on right, Judaea seated right, in attitude of mourning. RIC II.1 221; Hendin 6538; BMCRE 582-3; BN 561. Brown surfaces, rough in areas. VF. From the Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection.
  7. coins.ha.com Description Vespasian. A.D. 69-79. AE sestertius (32mm, 27.49g). 'Judaea Capta' series. Rome, A.D. 71. Laureate head right / VICTO-RIA AVGVSTI, Victory standing right, inscribing shield attached to palm tree; Jewess seated right on pile of arms below. RIC 397; BMC 582-4; Brin 51 corr.; Cohen 624. VF, brown patina, light smoothing in obverse field.
  8. https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=394&lot=285 Lot 285 Estimate: 2500 USD Price realized: 2600 USD. ANCIENT COINS. ROMAN. Vespasian (A.D. 69-79), AE Sestertius, 25.52g, 6h. Struck in A.D. 71. Judaea Capta series. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head of Vespasian facing right. Rev. VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Victory standing right, her left foot on a helmet, inscribing a shield attached to a palm-tree, Judaea seated to right, S C in exergue (RIC 221; BMC 582; Hendin 1508). In NGC holder graded VF, strike 5/5, surface 2/5, dark brown tone, very fine. Estimate: $2,500.
  9. https://www.astetinia.it/it/lot/579/roma-vespasiano-sesterzio-71-ae-2471g-/ LOTTO 579 - ASTA NUMISMATICA «CESARE» Roma, Vespasiano, Sesterzio, 71, Base d'asta: 650,00 EUR. Aggiudicazione: 0,00 EUR. Roma, Vespasiano, Sesterzio, 71, AE (24,71g x 33mm); D/ IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III; testa laureata. R/ IVDAEA CAPTA; S C; una palma con a sinistra Vespasiano con lancia e parazonium e a destra, la Giudea seduta. RIC 167; BMC 796. Bel ritratto; tondello regolare. Grading/Stato: qBB.
  10. https://www.ma-shops.nl/henzen/item.php?id=65212 Kwaliteit: (cf. New York Sale 2021, lot 116 in ZF USD 3.200+ | Afkortingen Catalogus: The First Jewish–Roman Wa weight 25,59gr. orichalcum Ø 34mm. obv. Laureate head of Vespasianus right, surrounded by the legend IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III. rev. Victory standing right, resting left foot on helmet, inscribing OB CIV SERV on shield attached to palm-tree mourning Jewess (Judaea) sits on right, surrounded by the legend VICTORIA AVGVSTI, S C in exergue.
    The First Jewish–Roman War (66–73 AD), sometimes called the Great Revolt, was the first of three major rebellions by the Jews against the Roman Empire, fought in the Eastern Mediterranean. The First Jewish–Roman War took place in Palestine, mainly in the province of Judea. The Great Revolt began in the year 66 AD, originating in Roman and Jewish ethnic and religious tensions. The crisis escalated due to anti-taxation protests and attacks upon Roman citizens. The experienced and unassuming general Vespasian was given the task, by Nero, of crushing the rebellion in Judaea province. His son Titus was appointed as second-in-command. Given four legions and assisted by forces of King Agrippa II, Vespasian invaded Galilee in 67. Within several months Vespasian and Titus took over the major Jewish strongholds of Galilee and finally overran Jodapatha, which was under the command of Yosef ben Matitiyahu, as well as subdued Tarichaea, which brought an end to the war in Galilee. Vespasian was called to Rome and appointed as Emperor in 69. With Vespasian′s departure, Titus moved to besiege the center of rebel resistance in Jerusalem in early 70. The first two walls of Jerusalem were breached within three weeks, but a stubborn rebel standoff prevented the Roman Army from breaking the third and thickest wall. Following a brutal seven-month siege, during which Zealot infighting resulted in the burning of the entire food supplies of the city, the Romans finally succeeded in breaching the defenses of the weakened Jewish forces in the summer of 70. The Second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Following the fall of Jerusalem, in the year 71 Titus left for Rome, leaving Legion X Fretensis to defeat the remaining Jewish strongholds including Herodium and Machaerus, finalizing the Roman campaign in Masada in 73–74. Cohen 625  RIC 221 | BMC 582var. | Sear 2344var. | Hendin 1508  R. (cf. New York Sale 2021, lot 116 in vf USD 3.200 + 20%). A very interesting historical coin. Rare. f/vf.
Coming to conclusions, the physical characteristics of the coin are missing and a comparative examination with the authentic coins of the period is not possible. If authentic, the coin market value in the present conditions does not exceed, in my views, a hundred euros.

Best regards.
Giulio De Florio

--------------------------
Notes:
(1) Sesterce (orichalcum). BMC II gives the average weight of Vespasian sesterces: 25.84g (average over 105 specimens). I collect in the table below the physical characteristics of the sesterces of the type of figure taken from the links above:

References Weight(g) Diameter(mm) Die axis(h)
Link01 25,99 - 7
Link02 24,34 - 6
Link03 26,22 - -
Link04 27,54 34 6
Link05 27,12 - -
Link06 26,34 34 6
Link07 27,49 32 -
Link08 25,52 - 6
Link09 24,71 33 -
Link10 25,59 34 -
In the absence of the physical characteristics of the sample under examination, it will not be possible to carry out a comparative examination with the genuine coins of the period, nor to verfy the type of nominal.
(2) 71 A.D. is the year of Vespasian's third consulate (COS III precisely) but also the year in which he celebrated, together with his son Titus, the triumph in the Jewish war and raised a grandiose temple to Peace
in Rome.
(3) The rarity index, according to Ric II (old edition) is "S".
(4) IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III (IMPerator CAESar VESPASIANus AVGustus Pontifex Maximus TRibunicia Potestate Pater Patriae COnSul III). Refer to Treccani Encyclopedia online (v. link) for an historical profile of Vespasian and to the page above for a description of the Jewish–Roman War.
(5) VI-CTORIA - AVGVSTI (la Vittoria di Augusto). The symbolism is transparent, the palm tree represents Judea, the conquered land, the mourning woman sitting on an armor is the vanquished nation.
(6) [OB/CIV/SERV]. The script "OB CIVis SERVatos" remembers the honor that the Senate had granted to Augustus in 27 BC, as "Savior of the Fatherland", in analogy with the medal (the civic crown) that was granted to the soldier who had saved the life of a fellow soldier in battle. The "Civis" of the legend is the archaic form of "cives", so literally the meaning of the legend is: "for having saved fellow citizens".
(7) S C (Senatus Consulto, "by decree of the Senate") was the usual abbreviation affixed to the Roman bronze nominals (sesterces, dupondi and asses) to indicate the exclusive competence of the Roman Senate in decisions relating to the issues of those coins (the gold and silver coinage, which does not bear that acronym, fell instead within the direct competence of the emperor).
Index Back Forth