Vespasian, 69-79. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 36 mm, 25.46 g, 6 h), Rome, 71. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M T P P P COS III Laureate head of Vespasian to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. VICTORIA AVGVSTI / S C Victory advancing right, holding palladium in her right hand and presenting it to Vespasian, standing front in military attire, head to left, extending his right hand and holding spear in his left. BMC 786 corr. (not aegis, but drapery on shoulder). Bromberg -. CBN -. Cohen 620 var. (no drapery). Hendin -. RIC 132. Samel -. Shoshana -. An extremely rare type, and with an unusual and exceptionally lifelike portrait. Slightly smoothed and with minor traces of corrosion and some doubling on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.



Struck in 71 CE, this extremely rare sestertius belongs to the great series of victory issues following the Flavian triumph over Judaea. Rather than showing the defeated province, however, the reverse presents Victory offering Vespasian the Palladium, the ancient image of Pallas Athena regarded as a sacred guarantee of Rome’s safety and continued existence. The scene thus links the recent military victory with the security and permanence of Roman rule.

This meaning is reinforced by closely related sestertii showing the same scene under the legend AETERNITAS P R, the 'eternity of the Roman people'. In the context of 71 CE, the type forms a natural counterpart to the explicit Judaea Capta issues, presenting Vespasian not only as conqueror, but as the ruler under whom victory, stability and the continuity of Rome had been restored.