Sestertius - Vespasian ANNONA AVGVST S C, Annona

Struck in the final year of Vespasian's reign, this sestertius belongs to a consolidation period following the chaos of 69 AD — the Year of the Four Emperors — during which Rome's grain supply had been severely disrupted. The Annona, as the state grain administration, was central to Vespasian's program of restoring public confidence; he invested heavily in the Ostia harbor infrastructure that Claudius had begun and Nero neglected.

RIC II.1 1090 is among the last issues attributable to Vespasian before his death in June 79 AD, weeks before Vesuvius erupted.