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Sestertius - Vespasian MARS VICTOR S C, Mars
| Issuer | Roman Imperial Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 71 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 23.52 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The god Mars Victor depicted standing facing, head turned to the right, rendered in the classical nude heroic style with a helmet on his head. In his right hand he holds an upright spear, while his left hand grasps a military trophy. A small altar appears to the lower left of the figure. The senatorial authorization mark S C (Senatus Consultum) is inscribed in the field to either side of the deity, flanking the central composition. The reverse legend MARS VICTOR arcs across the upper field. |
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| Additional information |
Struck in 71 AD, the year following Vespasian's consolidation of power after the catastrophic Year of the Four Emperors, this issue belongs to a deliberate propaganda program centered on military victory — specifically the destruction of Jerusalem and the suppression of the Jewish revolt. Mars Victor was not an idle choice of type; Vespasian needed to legitimize a dynasty founded entirely on military force, with no Julian or Claudian blood to fall back on. The Flavians built their claim on the army, and the coinage said so plainly.
RIC II.1 #94 is a Rome mint product of the early Flavian series, where officina output was being reorganized after the disruptions of 69 AD.