Vespasian, 69-79. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 35 mm, 25.46 g, 6 h), Rome, 71. IMP CAES VESPAS AVG P M TR P P P COS III Laureate head of Vespasian to right. Rev. IVDAEA [CAPTA] / S C Palm tree with two bunches of dates; to left, male captive standing left, head to right, with his hands bound behind his back; at his feet to left, helmet; to right, Judaea, draped and veiled, seated right on cuirass and shield in attitude of mourning, resting her head on her left hand. BMC 539 (same reverse die). Bromberg -. CBN 492 corr. (helmet, not globe on reverse). Cohen -. Hendin 6540. RIC 234. Samel 2305. Shoshana -. Attractive bluish deposits over an olive-green patina, and with excellent reverse detail. Slightly rough and with very minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, good very fine.



This variant offers a more compact treatment of the familiar captive-and-Judaea composition. Rather than being clearly separated on either side of the palm tree, the standing prisoner and seated Judaea are drawn closely together around it, forming an almost emblematic image of the conquered province. The simplification is characteristic of the way in which the IVDAEA CAPTA design was repeatedly adapted and condensed across Vespasian’s bronze coinage. Together with the more elaborate versions of the type, it illustrates how a single basic formula could be varied considerably without altering its central message of Roman victory and Judaean defeat.