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Ancient Coins
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A community for collectors of ancient and medieval coins.
ID requests are welcome, but please post clearly lit images of both sides of the coin as well as a picture of the edges of the coin.
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Bought this at a recent small auction for €100. Someone else mentioned it's an "official museum replica" rather than genuine.
Since my expertise is mostly in Romans, I must admit I'm sort of out of my depth with this one. It's not ferromagnetic and the weight checks out at 3.76g, but I am concerned about some of the surface marks.
I hope someone with some more knowledge in these can weigh in and help verify (or not) the authenticity.
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IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III
IMPERATOR CAESAR VESPASIAN AUGUSTUS PONTIFEX MAXIMUS TRIBUNICIA POTESTATE PATER PATRIAE CONSUL TERTIUM
(yes, the Romans were very fond of abbreviations)
Emperor (or 'Commander') Caesar Vespasian Augustus, high priest, holder of tribunician power (veto and the power to propose legislation), father of the fatherland, consul (elected political leader) for the third time
IVDEA CAPTA S C
IVDEA CAPTA SENATUS CONSULTUM
Judea conquered, [by] decree of the Senate
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sestertius_-_Vespasiano_-_Iudaea_Capta-RIC_0424.jpg
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After the deaths of Emperors Gordianus I and II, the Roman Senate had a major problem. It had not long before declared soldier emperor Maximinus I Thrax an enemy of the people, and this Maximinus meanwhile marched with his army to Rome. In an emergency session of the Senate, Pupienus and Balbinus were then elected emperors. The people, however, did not take this lightly, and became restless. By appointing the later Gordianus III as Caesar, worse was prevented.
Pupienus, the more militarily experienced of the two emperors went to Ravenna to build up an army and take on Maximinus. This went surprisingly well, as Pupienus was able to get many soldiers from Germania, and Maximinus' supplies ran out. Maximinus was then killed by his soldiers, who otherwise kept quiet after a commutation.
Pupienus returned to Rome, where Balbinus did not control the situation. However, peace returned somewhat with the arrival of Pupienus. However, the emperors among themselves did not trust each other one bit. Pupienus therefore wanted his Germanic troops with him. The Praetorian Guard did not like this and killed both emperors. Caesar Gordianus became emperor.
The reverse of this coin bears the inscription "Caritas mutua avgg" which means "mutual benevolence of the emperors", which couldn't be further from the truth; their loathing and distrust for each other directly led to their demise. The use of coins as propaganda vehicles was, by this time, a well-established tactic in administrating the empire.
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Probably quite early in his reign, as the portrait looks quite a bit like Severus Alexander.
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