69-79 AD Roman Coin Vespasian . COIN587

69-79 AD Roman Coin Vespasian. Appears to be a Brass-Bronze type coin with brownish type patina. Size approximately 1 1/8 inch across. Very heavily worn condition.

Additional Notes: The Roman Dupondius [AE] was first issued during the Roman Republic. Its initial value was two asses. Struck from a bronze alloy called orichalcum, it looks yellowish like the larger sestertius, however, starting with Nero, the emperor is always shown wearing a radiate crown which makes it easy to distinguish from sestertii and asses.

The Roman As [AE], this denomination, meaning ’unity’, was a standard unit in Roman coinages initially. It was first struck c.280 BC. From the beginning of the Empire it was struck in pure copper, making it look yellowish, but by the end of the 3rd century AD it was bronze. Hence, asses usually appear darker than dupondii or sestertii, and they are also smaller than the other two at a given time. The emperor is always shown wearing a laurel wreath on an as, which helps to identify it.

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