VESPASIAN SILVER TETRADRACHM – HOLY YEAR 1 ISSUE OF ANTIOCH – VF ROMAN PROVINCIAL COIN OF THE 12 CAESARS (20419)

$575.00

20419. ROMAN EMPIRE. VESPASIAN, AD 69-79.
Silver Tetradrachm, 14.88 g, 25 mm. Roman provincial issue minted at Antioch and dated HOLY YEAR 1 (AD 68/69).
Obv. AYTOKPA OYЄCΠACIANOC KAICAP CЄBACTOC, laureate head of Vespasian right. Rev. ЄTOYC NЄOY IЄPOY A (New Holy Year 1), eagle with wreath in beak, standing left on club, palm in left field.
RPC II, 1970; McAlee 355; Prieur 132.
VF, with a particularly fine style portrait of Vespasian.

This Syrian tetradrachm was struck at Antioch shortly after July 1, AD 69, when Vespasian had himself acclaimed as the fourth emperor of the bloody Year of the Four Emperors. The reverse Greek legend proclaims, “holy new year 1,” which probably ran from Vespasian’s assumption of the imperial title until October AD 69, when the Antiochene civic calendar had its new year. As such, this coin may have been struck while Vespasian was still in Syria to prosecute the Jewish War (AD 66-70) or shortly after his departure to challenge Vitellius for control of Rome. At this point in the Jewish War, Vespasian, together with his son Titus, had largely repressed the rebels in the countryside of Judaea and forced the various factions to seek protection behind the walls of Jerusalem. They were beginning preparations to besiege the city when developments at Rome made the time right for Vespasian to make his bid for the imperial purple. Vespasian then turned his attention to Rome and left Titus to finish the Jewish War on his behalf. On December 21, AD 69 (in “holy new year 2” of Antioch), Vespasian was officially recognized as emperor by the Roman Senate, and in the spring of AD 70, Titus began the siege that ended in the destruction of Jerusalem.