Ancient Rome - 69-79 CE Vespasian AR Denarius NGC Choice AU
IN STOCK
SKU
4936371006
Vespasian Denarius. Rome Mint. The obverse presents IMP CAESAR VESPASIANUS AUG with laureate head of Vespasian facing right. The reverse shows Fortuna standing facing left holding cornucopia and leaning on prow. This is a choice, early specimen of a Vespasian Denarius that is beautifully struck on a planchet of faultless, excellent silver. Well struck and there is very little wear observed on this highly lustrous specimen.
Sculpture of Fortuna in Vienna, Austria. Photo: wikipedia.
Fortuna is the Roman equivalent to the Greek goddess Tyche. She is the goddess of fortune and the embodiment of luck in Roman religion who remained popular through the Middle Ages until the Renaissance. A blindfolded presentation of her is still an important figure in Italian culture in which the dichotomy of fortuna/sfortuna (luck/unluck) is prominent in everyday life, represented by the refrain, "La [dea] fortuna è cieca"--"Luck [goddess] is blind."
Fortuna is often presented with a gubernaculum (ship's rudder), a ball or Rota Fortunae (wheel of fortune, first mentioned by Cicero), and a cornucopia, as she is upon this coin. She can bring either good or bad luck and is at times characterized as veiled and blind, as in modern offerings of Justice, however Fortuna does not hold a balance. She was also a goddess of fate. As Atrox Fortuna, she took the lives of Augustus' young grandsons Gaius and Lucius, potential heirs to the Roman empire. In antiquity she was also called Automatia.
| Grading Service | NGC |
|---|---|
| Year of Issue | NONE |
| Grade | AU55 |
| Ancient Year Range | 1-100 AD |
| Denom Type | Ancient |
| Numeric Denomination | AR Denarius |
| Mint Location | NONE |
| Designation | NONE |
| Circ/UnCirc | Circulated |
| Strike Type | Business |
| Holder Variety | Strike 5/5; Surface 4/5 |
| Grade Add On | NONE |
| Holder Type | N/A |
