A Vespasian Denarius

I have this as RIC 360 (Sear 2316). Its weight comes in at 2.87 grams. I liked this specimen for being quite well preserved when compared to many I have seen sold in recent years. Its singular flaw would be that the flan is a bit undersized relative to the dies.

I've always felt that Vespasian's portrait was one of the more distinctive and readily recognizable ones. In some instances he's made to look rather grim or even angry (with this coin's effigy being an example of such), although the Roman historian Suetonius's account of his reign doesn't suggest Vespasian was very often either. He does remark, however, that the emperor's "features gave the idea of a man in the act of straining himself." It's also interesting for its Vesta reverse, as it would be atypical for that particular goddess to be represented in human form. Perhaps the depiction is meant to show a Vestal Virgin performing a rite.