Divus Vespasian, died 79. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.35 g, 5 h), Rome, struck under Titus, 80-81. DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS Laureate head of Divus Vespasian to right. Rev. EX S C Slow quadriga left, with tensa (car) in form of a small temple, surmounted by two Victories; the side and front are decorated with figures. BMC 119. Cohen 146. RIC 361. Light deposits, otherwise, nearly very fine.
A series of coins with enigmatic images of empty chariots were minted from Augusts to Titus. Who or what did these vehicles convey? And in what context? A careful and systematic comparison of these mysterious vehicles with other quadrigae that represent a triumph yields some clear and distinct iconographical differences. The evidence suggests that these obscure, empty chariots were in fact tensae, sacred chariots that carried the symbols of the gods to the circus, employed as a synecdoche for the pompa circensis and the circus games that followed.
