Roman Quinarius Coins

Inv. No.: c074
Date: A.D. 69-79.
Weight: 1.63g
 
Obv.: Vespasian, laureate.

Rev.: Nike (Victory) seated on globe.

Although the silver quinarius had not been struck for more than a century, Vespasian saw fit to revive it. This may have stemmed from a desire to invest his rule with a simple, antiquarian, Republican-type aura. One might imagine the effect if the farthing were to be revived in British currency today. The types are executed with considerable delicacy: Vespasian typical short-cropped hairstyle can be discerned through a microscope; for a model of Nike the die-cutter might well have used an engraved gem, rather than a sculpture or a painting. Once Republican quinarii adopted a Victory reverse similar to that of the half-victoriatus, Victory in one form or another remained the standard reverse type for quinarii thereafter.