Impressive Pedigree

Triton XXI, Lot: 28. Estimate $50000. Sold for $30000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Vespasian. AD 69-79. AV Aureus (19mm, 6.92 g, 5h). Alexandria(?) mint. Struck AD 70. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right / COS ITER TR POT, Aequitas standing facing, head left, holding scales with her right hand and a scepter with her left. RIC II 1526; BMCRE II Addenda 496 (this coin mentioned on p. 426); Calicó 604a (Antioch); RPC II 1905/2 (this coin – attributed to Antioch); Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 32 (this coin). EF, small bruise on the edge, attractive cabinet toning. Extremely rare, one of two known, the other being the British Museum specimen. This coin was struck on the reduced weight standard introduced during Nero’s reign.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection. Ex Bank Leu AG 54 (25 April 1992), lot 234; Münzen und Medaillen AG 21 (19 March 1960), lot 33; John Glas Sandeman Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 13 June 1911), lot 457 (purchased by Feuardent for £5.2.6).