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Ancient Coin of the Day: A glorious aureus of Vespasian (my fave!) from AD 74, celebrating the good governance and prosperity that his reign had brought to the Roman world. #ACOTD #Vespasian
Image: RIC 2.1 Vespasian 682
Image: RIC 2.1 Vespasian 682
I appreciate the elegant simplicity of this design, with its simple Legends IMP CAESAR VESP AVG and FORTVNA AVGVST, and its well modelled Fortuna, holding both cornucopia and rudder, respectively symbolising plenty and gubernatorial statesmanship.
Image: Reverse of Vespasian 682
Image: Reverse of Vespasian 682
The coins of Vespasian tend to advertise key empire-wise concepts such as peace, prosperity, and stability - all a far cry from the chaos of AD 69 out of which Vespasian emerged as emperor.
Ancient History Quote of the Day: "And so when he was one year short of his seventieth, he passed away mixing jokes with serious matters..." (Epitome de Caesaribus 9.17). #AHQOTD #Vespasian
Image: British Museum (1850,0304.35)
Image: British Museum (1850,0304.35)
On this day - 23 June - in AD 79, Titus Flavius Vespanius, the first emperor of the Flavian Dynasty died.
He is my favourite emperor of Rome and his successful 'righting of the ship of state' following the Long Year of AD 69 makes for an exciting tale.
He is my favourite emperor of Rome and his successful 'righting of the ship of state' following the Long Year of AD 69 makes for an exciting tale.
The man certainly seems to have been something of a workaholic, with Philostratos (Life of Apollonius of Tyana 5.31.1) noting that he would rise around dawn to deal with correspondence...
Image: RIC 2.1 Vespasian 40
Image: RIC 2.1 Vespasian 40
Ancient Coin of the Day: A lovely aureus of Vespasian from AD 70, celebrating the restoration of peace to the Roman world. Following fighting in the streets of Rome itself in AD 69, advocating 'Peace' would be a key Vespasianic focus. #ACOTD #Vespasian
Image: RIC Vespasian 1130
Image: RIC Vespasian 1130
That being the 'restorer of peace' was to be a key aspect of Vespasian's imperial persona is unsurprising, and he had a ready precedent in the actions of Augustus following his own victory in a civil war.
Josephus tells us of the hunger of the Roman people for peace, and their enthusiasm for Vespasian, as they "...believed that they could now finally be freed from their sufferings and could again enjoy their former peace and prosperity" (Jewish War 7.66).
