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Aureus - Vespasian CONCORDIA AVG, Ceres
| Issuer | Roman Imperial Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 70 |
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| Reference(s) | RIC II.1#1415, OCRE#ric.2_1(2).ves.1415, RPC II#823, BMC RE#p.93† |
| Obverse description | Laureate head of Vespasian facing right, rendered in high relief with strong portraiture typical of early Flavian coinage, exhibiting furrowed brow and naturalistic facial features. The neck is bare and slightly truncated at the base. The surrounding field is plain, with a beaded border encircling the entire obverse. The legend runs clockwise around the periphery, partially interrupted at the base of the portrait truncation. |
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| Reverse description | Ceres, draped in flowing robes, seated left upon an ornate high-backed chair. In her extended right hand she holds two corn-ears and a poppy, emblems of agricultural abundance, while her left hand grasps a cornucopia, symbolising prosperity. The figure is rendered in a classicising style consistent with Flavian dynastic imagery. The legend is disposed in the field around the seated figure. The composition conveys the Augustan ideal of concordia and imperial plenty. |
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| Additional information |
Vespasian's first full year as undisputed emperor came after the catastrophic civil war of 69 AD — the Year of the Four Emperors — and the near-simultaneous destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The concordia messaging on this aureus was deliberate policy, not decoration: Vespasian needed to project unity after a year in which three emperors had died violently and the Roman military had effectively chosen his successor by force of arms.
The dagger symbol in the BMC reference indicates the British Museum holds an example but with some reservation about attribution or condition documentation — worth verifying against the RIC II.1 plate before purchasing for a type collection.