Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 1427. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

DIVUS VESPASIAN. Died 79 AD. Æ Sestertius (26.55 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck under Titus, 80-81 AD. DIVO/AVG/VESP in upper right field, S P Q R in exergue, radiate statue of Vespasian seated right on ornate stool, holding long sceptre in right hand and Victory, holding palm and wreath, in extended left hand, set on ornate car drawn right by four elephants; each elephant has its own mahout / IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII around large S C. RIC II 143 (Titus); BMCRE 222 (Titus); BN 230 (Titus); Cohen 205. VF, attractive even brown patina with reddish hue in the fields, a few spots of encrustation. Rare. ($1000)

From the John F. Sullivan Collection.

All of the references list the side with Titus' legend as the obverse, but the characteristics of the flan and strike indicate that this was actually the reverse. Additionally, it is canonical from the beginning of the imperial coinage that on such coins the commemorative side is the obverse, not the side with the issuer's titles.