Discover my collection in 3D
Virtual Gallery
Caesar Vespasianus Augustus
"Vesta" is the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Hestia, who was the goddess of the hearth. However, Vesta was venerated not only as the guardian of the family but also as the personification of the sacred fire. The Vestal Virgins, young women from patrician families, presided over ceremonies in her honor. They took vows of chastity for thirty years of service to the goddess. Vesta's main festival, the Vestalia, was celebrated on June 7th. Tradition attributes the introduction of Vesta's cult to King Numa Pompilius. The cult of the domestic hearth is thought to be prehistoric and, before Numa's time, was practiced privately by individual families (familiae) and Italian tribes (gentes). The Temple of Vesta on the Roman Forum is one of the oldest in Rome, dating back to the 7th century BCE.
Denomination: Denarius, Ag
Obverse: Laureate head of Vespasian to right, IMP CAES VESP P AVG P M
Reverse: Vesta seated left, holding simpulum in her right hand and resting left at her side, TRI POT
Mint: Rome, 71 A.D.
Weight: 3,12 g
Diameter: 18mm
Provenance: Kölner Münzkabinett
Reference : 09.3 RIC II 46a, RSC 561
Collection : IMPERIUM ROMANUM 02 - Flaviens