A Distinguished Collection of Roman Bronze Coins, the Property of a Gentleman

Roman Imperial Coinage, Vespasian, Sestertius, Rome, 71, laureate bust right, imp caes vespasian avg p m tr p p p cos iii, rev. ivdaea capta, palm tree; to left, captive standing right; to right, Judæa seated right on cuirass, both surrounded by arms, s c in exergue, 26.33g (RIC 159; BMC 533; C 234; Sear 2325). Obverse very fine with a little porosity and smoothed in front of face, reverse better, rare £1,500-2,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Distinguished Collection of Roman Bronze Coins, the Property of a Gentleman.

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Provenance: Bt Spink March 1938.

When unrest broke out in Judaea in 66, the Roman general Vespasian was sent to the province to crush the revolt. His son Titus was second-in-command. Within months the Roman forces had taken much of Galilee and fighters and refugees fled to Jerusalem, causing confrontation and violence in the city. In 69 Vespasian was called back to Rome while Titus moved to besiege Jerusalem in early 70. The city finally fell in the summer of that year and the Second Temple was destroyed, providing the Romans with enormous amounts of booty. This resounding military success was commemorated on the coinage for a number of years