Roman Imperial: Vespasian (AD 69-79). AV aureus (18mm, 7.26 gm, 7h). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 3/5, brushed....

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Vespasian (AD 69-79). AV aureus (18mm, 7.26 gm, 7h). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 3/5, brushed. Lugdunum, AD 69-71. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG TR P, laureate head of Vespasian right / COS ITER-FORT RED, Fortuna standing facing, head left, with right hand on prow left, cornucopia cradled in left arm. Calicó 602a. RIC II.1, 1104. Crisp, well-centered dies.

Descended from a family of small-time entrepreneurs and tax farmers in the Sabine hill country north of Rome, Flavius Vespasianus was born in AD 9 and rose to prominence in the Roman Army. He gained distinction during Claudius' invasion of Britain in AD 43-44 and won a Consulship in AD 51, but fell from imperial favor when he dozed off during one of Nero's musical performances. When a Jewish faction in the province of Judaea rebelled and massacred the local Roman garrison in AD 66, Nero sent Vespasian at the head of three legions to crush the revolt. Through his able son Titus, Vespasian gained the friendship and support of Mucianus, governor of Syria, who had another three legions at his disposal. When the collapse of Nero's regime in AD 68 led to a free-for-all for the throne, with Galba, Otho, and Vitellius following in quick succession, Vespasian realized he had the means and ability to make his own try for supreme power.

On 1 July AD 69, the legions of Alexandria, Egypt declared Vespasian as emperor. He decided on a policy of blockade and attrition to defeat Vitellius, but the sudden declaration of support by the Danubian legions and their invasion of Italy in the fall of AD 69 brought a much quicker victory. Vitellius was executed on 20 December, and the Senate proclaimed Vespasian emperor two days later. Arriving in Rome the following October, Vespasian celebrated a magnificent triumph for the Judaean campaign before launching an austerity program to put the Empire's finances on sound footing. His decade of rule was largely untroubled by revolts and conspiracies. Upon his death due to a sudden illness in AD 79 he was widely and sincerely mourned, and power passed smoothly to his son Titus.

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