Copper As of Vespasian RIC 580

Copper AS (28mm 11.32g) Struck 76 A.D.

Obv: IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS VII Laureate bust right

Rev: AEQVITAS AVGVST S C Aequitas standing left, holding rod and scale.

RIC II 580a

Let's break down exactly what you are looking at on both sides of this ancient piece of pocket change.

The Front (Obverse)

The front features the side profile of Emperor Vespasian wearing a laurel wreath. Around his portrait is a ring of compressed text that acts like a billboard for his achievements.

• The Latin Inscription: IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS VII
• What it actually spells out: Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus, Consul Septimum
• The Translation: "Commander Caesar Vespasian Augustus, Consul for the 7th time."

The Interpretation:

Vespasian came to power after a messy civil war (the "Year of the Four Emperors"). By plastering his face on money with titles like Imperator (successful military general) and Augustus (the revered ruler), he was reminding everyone, "Hey, I'm the guy in charge, and I've got the army backing me." The COS VII means he was elected as a Consul (Rome's top political office) for the seventh time. This tells historians the coin was made in 76 A.D., because that was the year of his seventh consulship!

The Back (Reverse)

The back features a standing goddess holding a balance scale in one hand and a measuring rod (or staff) in the other.

• The Latin Inscription: AEQVITAS AVGVST with a big S C on either side of her feet.
• What it means: Aequitas Augusti ("The Equity/Fairness of the Emperor") and Senatus Consulto ("By Decree of the Senate").

The Interpretation:

• The Message: Aequitas was the Roman goddess of fairness, justice, and—importantly for money—honest deal-making. The scales represent fair trade and correct weight, while the rod represents accurate measurement. Vespasian was basically using this coin as a political ad to say, "Under my rule, the economy is stable, the money is honest, and the government will treat you fairly." It was all about building public trust after years of political chaos.
• The letters S C: Copper and bronze coins had to be officially approved by the Roman Senate. The S C is a stamp of approval showing that the Senate authorized the metal to be minted into spending cash.

It is a fantastic little piece of ancient history that shows exactly how a Roman emperor used everyday coins to broadcast a message of stability, fairness, and absolute authority to the public!