ROMAN EMPIRE. Vespasian (AD 69-79). Gold aureus (7.27 
gm). Tarraco, AD 70. IMP. CAESAR. VESPASIANVS. AVG, 
laureate head right / IVDAEA, mourning Jewess seated 
right on ground beside trophy. BMCRE 357 and 358, pl. 
11, 9-10 (same reverse die). Cohen 225 (50 Fr.). 
Excessively rare. 
New RIC 1.

The Tarraco mint aureus of this type is far rarer than 
the Rome mint version and was possibly struck from a single 
reverse die. The British Museum has two and a third appeared 
in NFA XIV (29 November 1984, lot 349. Vespasian's gold and 
silver coins  of Tarraco are distinguished from Rome mint 
pieces by dots separating the words in the obverse legend on 
many coins, and by their use of a number of non-Roman reverse types, e.g. HISPANIA. 

Sold for $8,000 USD [ approx 6080 EUR, 4240 GBP ]

Gemini I Auction Closed Jan 11-12, 2005. 
Re-used by permission of Freeman & Sear and Harlan J Berk (www.harlanjberk.com).