Roman Empire - dupondius of Emperor Vespasianus ( A.D.)
AE-dupondius ( g, 29 mm, Lyon. Head with halo to the right. IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG COS III / SECVRIT-AS AVGVSTI – S C Securitas on throne to the right, an altar in front of it. RIC R = rare.The son of a businessman and brother of the prefect of Rome, he enlisted in the army as a soldier. He served under Caligula, Claudius and Nero. He was successful and held positions in, among others, Britain, Germania, Greece and Judea. Nero let him strike down a revolt in the latter country, with great success. Coins with the "Judea Capta" reverse side are highly sought-after. After Galba fell, and Otho after that, Vitellius rose to power. The soldiers of Vespasianus were not satisfied with that and chose Vespasianus as emperor. Vespasianus went to Rome and even before he reached the city gates, Vitellius was lynched and Vespasianus was hailed as a hero. He was a skilled leader and Rome prospered. He had the Colosseum built, for example. In 79 he died of dysentery. Read More