Vespasian Sestertius, RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Vespasian 113

Monetary Context and Imperial Reform

The sestertius catalogued as RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Vespasian 113 belongs to the crucial opening phase of Flavian monetary reorganization. Following the upheaval of the civil wars of AD 68 to 69, imperial finances and currency infrastructure suffered extensive disruption. Nero had previously altered the denominations and metallurgy of base metal coinage in his AD 64 reforms, but the instability of the succession contests depleted treasuries and fragmented minting activities. Upon securing Rome and consolidating power, Vespasian prioritized the regularized production of bronze and orichalcum coinage to re-establish confidence in civic transactions. The sestertius, occupying the position of four asses or two dupondii, was the highest-value token denomination in daily use. Its large flan provided an exceptional public canvas for state messaging, making it central to the projection of imperial legitimacy. In AD 71, significant monetary volume was required to support military discharges, reconstruction projects in Rome, and routine market operations. The issue of RIC 113 formed a direct component of this comprehensive restoration of standard Augustan denominations.

Production Standards and Mint Organization

Production of RIC 113 was centered exclusively at the primary imperial mint in Rome. During AD 71, the Rome mint witnessed an unprecedented expansion in output, operating with multiple officinae to execute an extensive program of gold, silver, and aes coinage. Sestertii of this series were manufactured using orichalcum, a golden-toned copper-zinc alloy favored for its visual prominence and high status among base metals, though varying traces of lead and tin were common in recycled Flavian stock. Blanks were cast in individual molds or open beds before being hammered between heavy engraved dies. The target weight standard for early Flavian sestertii mirrored the Augustan ideal of approximately one Roman ounce, hovering characteristically between 24 and 28 grams, though specimens display normal variations stemming from batch production techniques. Die orientation was predominantly regular, aligned at either six o'clock or twelve o'clock, reflecting the disciplined workshop methods of the capital mint. The high technical execution of the engraving on RIC 113 demonstrates the work of experienced master celators tasked with rendering the new dynasty's official image.

Obverse Design and Portraiture

The obverse of RIC 113 presents a right-facing portrait of Vespasian wearing a laurel wreath tied behind the neck. This portrait style marks a deliberate visual departure from the idealized, youthful classicism of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and the flamboyant imagery of Nero. Vespasian is shown with a weathered, square jaw, prominent neck, furrowed brow, and receding hairline, evoking the traditional Roman aristocratic ideal of verism. By emphasizing mature, severe features (severitas) and military determination, the portrait conveyed seasoned competence and steadfast civic governance to an empire exhausted by civil war. The laurel wreath rests securely on the head, symbolizing victorious leadership. The die engraving captures precise anatomical details, including facial folds and muscular tension in the neck, establishing the authoritative portrait canon that defined Flavian imperial self-representation.

Reverse Iconography of Mars

The reverse iconography of RIC 113 features Mars Gradivus, the god of war, advancing briskly toward the right. Mars is depicted nude except for a flowing chlamys draped across his shoulders or around his waist, accentuating physical prowess and athletic martial readiness. He holds a transverse spear in his right hand, angled forward, while supporting a military trophy (tropaeum) over his left shoulder. The trophy consists of captured armor, greaves, and shields mounted upon a wooden framework, serving as an unambiguous emblem of battlefield triumph. Flanking the lower fields of the composition are the letters S and C, denoting Senatus Consulto. The depiction of Mars advancing with a trophy carried potent political significance in AD 71, directly alluding to the pacification of Judaea and the restoration of imperial peace achieved through martial victory. Rather than representing reckless warfare, Mars here personifies the righteous military force that guarantees civic security and stability under the emperor's stewardship.

Epigraphy and Titulature

The inscriptions on RIC 113 are carefully structured to express constitutional authority and chronological specificity. The obverse legend reads IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M T P P P COS III, beginning at the lower left and running clockwise around the rim. The imperial praenomen IMP (Imperator) claims supreme military command, followed by the inherited dynastic name CAESAR and the personal cognomen VESPASIANVS. AVG (Augustus) denotes sovereign authority, while P M (Pontifex Maximus) proclaims his role as chief priest of the Roman state religion. The formula T P (or TRIB POT, indicating Tribunicia Potestas) confirms the grant of tribunician power essential for civil governance, paired with P P (Pater Patriae), the title 'Father of His Country.' The terminal element, COS III, indicates that Vespasian was serving his third consulship, a tenure held in AD 71 alongside his son Titus. The reverse field contains the concise abbreviation S C (Senatus Consulto), marking the formal constitutional decree of the Senate under whose traditional sanction public base-metal coinage was issued.

Typology and Chronological Classification

Within the typology of the Flavian coinage, RIC 113 occupies a distinct chronological horizon defined by the iteration COS III in combination with Vespasian's full titulature. In the original 1926 edition of Roman Imperial Coinage Volume II by Harold Mattingly and Edward Sydenham, base-metal issues were categorized across broader stylistic groups. The updated second edition (RIC II.1) authored by Ian Carradice and Theodore V. Buttrey in 2007 refined the sequence of the Rome mint in AD 71, identifying RIC 113 as part of an expansive emission celebrating military triumph and the reorganization of the state. Related contemporary types of AD 71 feature Victory, Roma, Pax, and the renowned IVDAEA CAPTA iconography. RIC 113 is closely linked to similar reverse dies pairing Mars advancing right with alternative obverse bust drapery or minor variations in legend breaks, though the core type requires the laureate head right without drapery, the specified third-consulship legend, and the advancing Mars reverse.

Circulation Life and Archaeological Context

Sestertii of Vespasian from AD 71 enjoyed a prolonged and geographically extensive circulation life throughout the Roman world. As high-denomination aes currency, these heavy coins circulated widely across Italy, the western provinces, and frontier military encampments along the Rhine and Danube. Evidence from site finds and hoards shows that early Flavian sestertii remained active in commercial channels for decades, frequently passing through transactions well into the second century AD alongside issues of Trajan, Hadrian, and the Antonines. Because of their substantive purchasing power, sestertii suffered mechanical wear over generations, resulting in smoothed legends and worn relief on long-lived specimens. Countermarks from provincial or military authorities are occasionally observed on contemporary aes pieces, though RIC 113 primarily circulated as an official, uncountermarked state product originating from the capital.

References

1. Studies in the Flavian Coinage: The Rome Mint AES of AD 71. pp. 28-44
2. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume II, Part 1: From AD 69 to 96 (Vespasian to Domitian). pp. 57-65, no. 113
3. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum (BMCRE), Volume II: Vespasian to Domitian. pp. 115-125
4. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Vespasian 113. ric.2_1(2).ves.113