VESPASIAN December 22, 69 - June 23, 79 - Lot 250

VESPASIAN December 22, 69 - June 23, 79 Founder of the Flavian dynasty Father of Titus and Domitian IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG. His laurelled bust right. R/. Neptune standing left, his foot resting on a ship's prow holding a trident and a dolphin. ♦ Cohen 189 var.; Calico cf 609; RIC 1113 Aureus struck in Lyon. (7,00 g) Very rare. T.B. The "vespasian" owes its name to the Roman emperor Vespasian. In fact, he extended a special tax on industry and commerce to the collection of urine. Urine, a source of ammonia, has long been used by dyers to prepare fabrics for coloring or, sometimes, to degrease wools, fabrics and woollen articles such as sheets, terry cloth, twill, stockings, caps, etc. Mocked for this tax, Emperor Vespasian is said to have replied: "Money has no smell" ("pecunia non olet"), a phrase that has become proverbial.