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Electronic Auction 501

Lot nuber 280

Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 25.83 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 71.


Electronic Auction 501
Lot: 280.
 Estimated: $ 750

Roman Imperial, Bronze

Sold For $ 1 300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Vespasian. AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 25.83 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 71. Laureate head right / Pax standing right, holding branch with left hand, and with torch in right, she sets fire to a pile of arms on ground; to left, statue of Minerva on tall column; to right, garlanded and lighted altar. RIC II.1 179 (R2). Brown patina, some roughness and smoothing. Good VF. Rare.

This most unorthodox representation of Pax belongs to the large and important series of aes issued in AD 71, the year that witnessed the joint triumph of Vespasian and Titus through the streets of Rome in celebration of their victory in Judaea. At this time, the Roman Empire had experienced five straight years of warfare, which had devastated the economy and threatened the very foundations of the empire. The goddess of peace here holds a flaming torch with which she sets fire to a heap of arms, the spoils of Rome's defeated enemies. This symbolic act was carried out in fulfillment of a vow undertaken to Rome's principal deities of war, Mars and Minerva. A statue of the latter appears atop a column accompanying the scene of celebration. The hope was that with the cessation of hostilities, the Roman people could now enjoy a period of tranquility under Flavian rule.

Closing Date and Time: 6 October 2021 at 11:33:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.