Peace Brings Happiness and Imperial Security

CNG 96, Lot: 767. Estimate $3000. Sold for $3000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Vespasian. AD 69-79. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.18 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 73. IMP CΛES VESP ΛVG P M COS IIII CEN, laureate head right / PAX AVG, Pax standing left, leaning on column, holding winged caduceus over purse set on tripod, and olive branch. RIC II 521; Calicó 661; BMCRE, p. 16, *; BN 309 (same dies); Biaggi 333 var. (obv. legend). Near VF, areas of toning. Rare, none in CoinArchives.

An interesting syncretic type demonstrating the relationship between healthy commerce and the peace, happiness, and security of the empire. Discussing this type, struck for both Vespasian and Titus as Caesar, Mattingly (BMCRE p. xxxvi) notes: “...Pax carries not only her own olive–branch, but also the caduceus of Felicitas and the follis (purse) of Mercury, the god who gives commercial success, and leans on the column of Securitas.”