Découvrez ma collection en 3D
Galerie virtuelle
Caesar Vespasianus Augustus
"Porcus – Pig" Before the Romans began minting their own coins, the image of a fat sow appeared on cast bronze ingots (Aes Signatum), dated to 275 BCE. The reverse side of these heavy ingots featured an elephant, possibly referencing the "flaming pig" tactic used by the Roman army to cause panic among King Pyrrhus's war elephants. According to accounts, legionaries released pigs with burning torches tied to their tails. Fleeing from the flames, the pigs charged into enemy lines, creating such chaos among the war elephants that the enraged beasts trampled their own troops.
The sow and piglets depicted on this denarius symbolize prosperity for pork-loving Romans, as pork was a staple of the Italian diet.
Denomination: Denarius, Ag
Obverse: Laureate head of Vespasian to right, CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG
Reverse: The Lavinian Sow standing left with three piglets, two standing below her, one behind her, IMP XIX
Mint: Rome, 77/78 A.D.
Weight: 3,42 g
Diameter: 18mm
Provenance: Fritz Rudolf Künker, ex Mark & Lottie Salton Collection
Référence : 09.5 RIC II 982, RSC 213
Collection : IMPERIUM ROMANUM 02 - Flaviens