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Roman Emp., Vespasian, Sestertius 73

Currency:CHF Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:12,000.00 CHF Estimated At:15,000.00 - 18,750.00 CHF
Roman Emp., Vespasian, Sestertius 73
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The Roman Empire, Vespasian, 69 – 79, Sestertius 73, Æ 25.15 g. IMP CAES VESP AVG PM TP PP COS IIII CENS Laureate bust r. Rev. Vespasian on triumphal quadriga holds olive branch and sceptre; on side of chariot, winged victory holding crown with right arm; front of chariot adorned with laurel wreath. In exergue, S C. C 477 var. (omits P P). BMC 659. RIC 577. CBN –. Extremely rare, apparently missing in all the major collections of “Judean” coins offered in public sale. A historically interesting issue of the Judean series referring to the triumphal parade held in Rome. Tiber tone, reverse slightly off-centre, otherwise about extremely fine Many prophecies portended the elevation of Vespasian to the imperial throne, the most renowned being that of 67 A.D. when he was field commander during the Judaic war. His soldiers had captured Yoseph ben Mattityahu, governor of rebel Galilee who “…declared in the surest manner that he would soon be freed by Vespasian himself by then Roman emperor.” (Svetonius, Life of the Caesars, book VIII, Chapter 5.), this being the same Yoseph who would later become the official historian of Vespasian and Titus with the name of Flavius Joseph. He spent the night which preceded the parade in the temple of Isis to thank the patron goddess of Alexandria, the city where the legions first proclaimed him emperor, and for the final review of the immense gathering in the nearby Campus Martius, starting point of the most magnificent triumphal parade Rome had ever seen. The theme of the triumphal procession was Victory, the goddess holding a laurel crown depicted on Vespasian’s quadriga. “… the seven arm gold candelabrum … and a copy of the law of the Jews, followed the numerous carriers of the statues of Victory, all in gold and ivory, and behind them came the quadriga of Vespasian followed by that of Titus, while Domitian was next to them in magnificent attire, riding a splendid horse…” (Flavius Joseph, The Judaic War, book VII, Chapter 5). Innumerable treasures seized from the Jews were displayed, ”...as a flowing river…” (ibid), most of which would later be sold to finance the construction of the Colosseum.