Orichalcum Dupondius of Vespasian RIC 555

Orichalcum Dupondius (26mm, 13.65g)
Struck AD 74, Rome

Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS V CENS radiate head of Vespasian left

Rev: FELICIT-AS PVBLICA, S C across field, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae.

RIC 555; BMC 698 Sear 2346
ex. Imperator Coins ex. Triskeles Auctions 28, lot 332 Jun 21, 2019

The Front (Obverse): Meet the Emperor

On the front of the coin, you see the profile of Emperor Vespasian. He's wearing a radiate crown (a crown with spikes that look like sunbeams).

The letters stamped around him are standard Roman abbreviations that spell out a giant list of his titles: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS V CENS

• IMP CAES VESP AVG: "Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus" — his full, official ruler name.
• P M (Pontifex Maximus): High Priest of Rome, meaning he ran the religious side of the empire.
• T P (Tribunicia Potestas): He holds the power of the Tribune, meaning he has the legal power to protect the common people (and veto anything he doesn't like!).
• COS V: "Consul for the 5th time." Think of this like saying he was re-elected as the top executive of Rome for his fifth term.
• CENS: "Censor." This meant he was in charge of the Roman census, the state finances, and checking up on public morals.

The Back (Reverse): The Good Vibes Message

On the right side of the coin, you see a goddess standing and holding a few items.

The text reads FELICIT-AS PVBLICA, which translates to "Public Happiness" or "The Good Fortune of the State."

Vespasian came to power right after a messy, violent civil war (a time called the "Year of the Four Emperors"). Putting "Public Happiness" on the money was his way of telling the people: "Hey, the wars are over, I've got everything under control, and prosperity is back!"

To prove it, the goddess is holding two very symbolic tools:

• A Caduceus: A staff with wings or snakes (held in her right hand) which symbolized peace and good commerce.
• A Cornucopiae: A horn of plenty (cradled in her left arm) which symbolized wealth, food, and abundance.
• S C: You'll also see the large letters S and C split on either side of her. This stands for Senatus Consulto, which means "By Decree of the Senate." It’s the ancient version of a "legal tender" stamp, proving the coin was official.

Fun Fact: What is "Orichalcum"?

The coin is made of orichalcum, which was a special golden-colored brass alloy made of copper and zinc. The Romans used it specifically for the Dupondius to help people easily tell it apart from the slightly smaller "As" coin, which was made of pure reddish copper. When it was brand new and freshly minted, this coin would have looked bright, shiny, and golden!