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Denarius - Vespasian OB CIVES SERVATOS
| Issuer | Roman Imperial Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 74 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | RIC II.1#700, OCRE#ric.2_1(2).ves.700 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A large, prominent oak wreath (corona civica) occupies the central field of the reverse, encircling the inscribed legend within its bounds. The oak wreath, a traditional Roman honor awarded for saving the lives of citizens, is depicted in fine detail with individual leaves rendered around a circular form. The reverse legend OB CIVES SERVATOS is inscribed within the wreath, referencing the honorific awarded to the emperor. A further portion of the legend appears in the outer field around the wreath's periphery. The overall composition is bold and symmetrical, conveying the civic and martial virtues of the Flavian dynasty. |
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| Additional information |
The "OB CIVES SERVATOS" reverse — honoring the emperor for saving citizens — was a deliberate piece of political positioning in 74 AD, four years into Vespasian's reign. He had consolidated power after the catastrophic Year of the Four Emperors, and the civic crown imagery invoked by the legend carried a specific republican resonance: it was the same honor awarded to Augustus, a parallel Vespasian was not making accidentally. The Flavian dynasty was new, its legitimacy still being constructed in metal.