Rare Vespasian Junior

194, Lot: 113. Estimate $500. Sold for $1350. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IONIA, Smyrna. Vespasian Junior. Caesar, AD ?-95/6. Æ 15mm (2.70 g, 1h). Bare head right / Nike advancing right, holding palm and wreath. RPC II 1028; Klose XLII, 5 (V2/R4). Good Fine, dark brown patina under some green deposits. Extremely rare.

One of the greatest problems facing Domitian toward the end of his reign was the lack of an heir – a problem which he solved by adopting two of the sons of his niece Domitilla and Titus Flavius Clemens, Domitian Junior and Vespasian Junior. Becoming suspicious of Flavius, Domitian exiled him along with Domitilla to Pandateria on charges of atheism. As nothing further is recorded about either adopted heir, it can be assumed that both were punished in some way for the supposed crimes of their parents.