VESPASIAN SILVER TETRADRACHM – ISSUE OF ANTIOCH HOLY YEAR ONE DURING THE JEWISH WARS – CHOICE VF FINE STYLE NGC GRADED ROMAN PROVINCIAL COIN (Inv. 20418)

$875.00

20418. ROMAN EMPIRE. VESPASIAN, AD 69-79.
Silver Tetradrachm, 14.79 g, 25 mm. Roman provincial issue of Antioch 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.
NGC graded CHOICE VF, Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5, FINE STYLE, with a particularly nicely rendered 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.