A Coin Of Vespasian I Never Knew Existed

I usually spend an hour or two every night looking for coins others missed or perhaps did not want. I always check the unsold lots from auction houses you never know what you might find.

I will be the first to admit that this is an ugly coin. However, it is also unique so far. This coin is the only one known. I love finding rare Flavian coins and I am always on the lookout for Dattari plate coins. Turns out this coin satisfies both. I have seen and ogled many Alexandrian coins with the Canopic reverses. I find this and other reverses on these coins to be interesting.

It also happens to be the RPC plate coin. As well it is the only example on RPC online.

Just read the history of this coin below in the attribution.




Vespasian Æ Obol of Alexandria, Egypt. Dated RY 7 = AD 74/5. [AYTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY], laureate head right / Canopus right; L [Z] (date) in right field. RPC 2446.1 (this coin); Dattari (Savio) 373 (this coin); Emmett 219. 4.47g, 22mm, 12h.

Extremely Rare; the only known example.

This coin published in A. Savio, Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Trieste, 1999);
This coin published in A. Burnett, M. Amandry, I. Carradice, Roman Provincial Coinage, vol. II (London and Paris, 1999);
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 46, 5 June 2018, lot 406;
Ex Naville Numismatics 28, 22 January 2017, lot 314;
Ex Dattari Collection, formed in Egypt prior to 1901.