Copper As of Vespasian RIC 482

Copper AS (28.91mm, 9.38 g) Struck 72 A.D.

Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III Laureate head right

Rev: AEQVITAS AVGVSTI S-C Aequitas standing left, holding scales and sceptre

RIC II(1st) 482, RIC II(2nd) 287 Sear 2356
ex. Ancient Imports (Marc Breitsprecher)

Here is a simple and fun breakdown of what the coin is telling us!

The Front (Obverse): Meet the Emperor

The front features a portrait of Vespasian looking to the right, sporting a laurel wreath (the classic Roman crown of victory).

Around his head, the Latin text reads:

IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III

Here is what that legal jargon actually means:

• IMP (Imperator): Victorious military commander. It tells everyone, "I control the army!"
• CAES (Caesar): A title taken by Roman emperors to link themselves back to Julius Caesar and Augustus, proving they have the right to rule.
• VESPASIAN: The emperor's name.
• AVG (Augustus): "The Majestic/Venerable One"—the ultimate title for the supreme ruler of Rome.
• COS III (Consul Tertium): This means he was serving his third term as a Consul (one of Rome's highest political offices). This sneaky little title is exactly how historians know the coin was made around 72 A.D.!

The Back (Reverse): The PR Campaign

The back of Roman coins was basically an ancient propaganda billboard. This one features a woman holding a set of scales and a long staff (sceptre).

The letters around her say:

AEQVITAS AVGVSTI / S - C

• AEQVITAS AVGVSTI: This translates to "The Equity (or Fairness) of the Emperor." Aequitas was the Roman goddess of fairness and honest dealings. By putting her on the coin, Vespasian was telling the public, "Hey everyone, I’m a fair guy! I'm balancing the budget, the economy is safe, and I won't cheat you." The scales she holds represent fair trade and honest weights.
• S - C (Senatus Consulto): This stands for "By Decree of the Senate." It's like a stamp of authenticity, letting citizens know the Roman Senate officially authorized the copper to be minted into money.