Uniface Sestertius Depicting Annona on the Reverse

355, Lot: 501. Estimate $150. Sold for $340. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Uniface Sestertius (34mm, 21.48 g). Rome mint. Blank / ANNONA AVGVST S C, Annona, draped, seated left, holding open on her lap a bag of grain ears, the ends held in her hands. Cf. RIC II 987-990 for the reverse type. VF, dark brown patina with tan highlights. The obverse smoothed with a lathe in antiquity.

The obverse of this coin, most likely Vespasian or one of his sons, was smoothed off in antiquity with a lathe, leaving behind the tell-tale concentric rings over the entire obverse side of the coin. Most likely done for mounting in some sort of jewelry, it is possible that it was done by someone “seeking of a favor to ensure the grain supply for a family or perhaps a village.” Interesting.