© Saint Paul Antiques
© Saint Paul Antiques
Æ - Vespasian PONT MAX TR POT P P COS VIII CENS S C; Serapis
| Bronze | 11.56 g | 28 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Vespasian (Titus Flavius Vespasianus) (69-79) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 77-78 |
| Currency | Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC – AD 215) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 11.56 g |
| Diameter | 28 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#250421 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Serapis, wearing modius, standing left, holding corn-ears, poppies, and cornucopiae.
Script: Latin
Lettering: PONT MAX TR POT P P COS VIII CENS S C
Translation:
Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate, Pater Patriae, Consul Octavum, Censor, Senatus Consultum.
High priest, holder of tribunician power, father of the nation, consul for the eighth time, censor, decree of the senate.
Comment
Source: Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features the image of Serapis, a deity worshipped in the Roman Empire during the reign of Vespasian. Serapis was a syncretization of the Egyptian god Osiris and the Greek god Hades, and was often depicted with a modius, a grain measure, on his head, symbolizing his role as a god of fertility and agriculture. The inclusion of Serapis on this coin highlights the cultural exchange and blending of religions that occurred during the Roman Empire.
