{"id":283079,"date":"2025-05-24T20:56:12","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T10:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/?p=283079"},"modified":"2025-05-24T20:56:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T10:56:15","slug":"the-urine-tax-the-story-of-vespasian-and-the-strangest-tax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/%d8%b6%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a8%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%88%d9%84-%d9%82%d8%b5%d8%a9-%d9%81%d8%b3%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%b2%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%88%d8%a3%d8%ba%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%b6%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a8%d8%a9-%d9%81\/","title":{"rendered":"The Urine Tax: The Story of Vespasian and the Strangest Tax in Roman History"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"rtl\"><strong data-start=\"260\" data-end=\"310\">Can money have a smell? Vespasian says (PECUNIA NON OLET)<\/strong><br data-start=\"310\" data-end=\"313\" \/>At the heart of Roman Empire history, specifically in the year 69 AD, one of the strangest taxes ever appeared: <strong data-start=\"418\" data-end=\"433\">urine tax<\/strong>It may seem strange, but behind this tax lies a fascinating political and economic story, led by the Roman emperor. <strong data-start=\"533\" data-end=\"545\">Vespasian<\/strong>The man who uttered his famous phrase: <em data-start=\"578\" data-end=\"598\">\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pecunia_non_olet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pecunia non olet<\/a>\u201c<\/em>, any <strong data-start=\"603\" data-end=\"626\">\u201cMoney has no smell.\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/%d8%b6%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a8%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%88%d9%84-%d9%82%d8%b5%d8%a9-%d9%81%d8%b3%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%b2%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%88%d8%a3%d8%ba%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%b6%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a8%d8%a9-%d9%81\/#%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%A9\" >Historical background:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/%d8%b6%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a8%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%88%d9%84-%d9%82%d8%b5%d8%a9-%d9%81%d8%b3%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%b2%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%88%d8%a3%d8%ba%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%b6%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a8%d8%a9-%d9%81\/#%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%B6_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8_%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B6_%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1_%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A7\" >Imposing taxes to compensate for Rome&#039;s losses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/%d8%b6%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a8%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%88%d9%84-%d9%82%d8%b5%d8%a9-%d9%81%d8%b3%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%b2%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%88%d8%a3%d8%ba%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%b6%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a8%d8%a9-%d9%81\/#%D8%B3%D9%83_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B0%D9%87%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D9%81%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%83%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9\" >The gold coin was minted in Alexandria<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-right\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%A9\"><\/span>Historical background:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<p dir=\"rtl\">In 69 AD, the Roman general Vespasian was besieging Jerusalem with the aim of suppressing the Great Jewish Revolt. However, he decided to leave the task to his son Titus, while he himself went to Alexandria, and from there to Rome to contest the rule against his rival Vitellius.<br data-start=\"911\" data-end=\"914\" \/>While he was in Alexandria, he received news of Vitellius&#039; defeat and the Roman Senate&#039;s recognition of him as the official emperor.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-right\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%B6_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8_%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B6_%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1_%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A7\"><\/span>Imposing taxes to compensate for Rome&#039;s losses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<p dir=\"rtl\">After his installation as emperor, Vespasian sought to consolidate his power and replenish the Roman treasury, which had been severely damaged after the chaos of the &quot;Year of the Four Emperors.&quot; He began by imposing a series of taxes on the provinces, most notably a urine tax levied on public toilets in Rome.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"rtl\">This tax was levied on the collection of urine from public toilets, which was used in the leather and textile industries because it contained ammonia. When his son Titus criticized this tax, Vespasian held up a bag of money and said to him: <em data-start=\"1503\" data-end=\"1521\">\u201c&quot;Can you smell it?&quot;\u201d<\/em>He added: <em data-start=\"1530\" data-end=\"1552\">\u201cMoney has no smell.\u201d<\/em> Hence the famous Latin proverb was born.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-right\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%D8%B3%D9%83_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B0%D9%87%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D9%81%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%83%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9\"><\/span>The gold coin was minted in Alexandria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<p dir=\"rtl\">In 70 AD, after the destruction of Jerusalem, Titus went to Alexandria. During this period, unique gold coins appeared, believed to have been minted either during the stay of Vespasian or his son Titus in the city.<\/p>\n<div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\">\n<div dir=\"auto\">Here we present a model of that gold coin, and the first thing we notice is that the writings are Latin and not Greek as is customary on Alexandrian coins, and this indicates the identity of those targeted by this criticism. We also note that there is nothing to indicate the Alexandrian mint except for the artistic features of the design as well as the manufacturing techniques. On the obverse we see a profile portrait of Emperor Vespasian, and on the margin is written in a circular shape his name and titles in Latin.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">(Emperor Caesar Vespasian Augustus)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\">\n<div dir=\"auto\">On the back we see a profile portrait of Titus, with his name and titles written in Latin in a circular pattern in the margin.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">IMP T FLAVIVS CAESAR AVG F<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">(Emperor Titus Flavius Caesar, son of Augustus)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\">\u00a0<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"398\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-8c6367eeb78947fb9a67f9647334fc7f.r2.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CAESAR-VESPASIANVS-gold-Medium.jpeg\" alt=\"A coin of Emperor Vespasian and his son Flavius\" class=\"wp-image-283080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-8c6367eeb78947fb9a67f9647334fc7f.r2.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CAESAR-VESPASIANVS-gold-Medium-768x382.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/pub-8c6367eeb78947fb9a67f9647334fc7f.r2.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CAESAR-VESPASIANVS-gold-Medium.jpeg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A coin of Emperor Vespasian and his son Flavius<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<p dir=\"rtl\">Historians believe that the minting of these coins was not for general circulation, but to strengthen the loyalty of the armies and consolidate the authority of the Flavian dynasty after years of political turmoil.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"rtl\">It is worth noting that Titus&#039;s name was followed by titles almost identical to those of his father, and he was crowned with a laurel wreath like his father. This led some experts to assume that he had an intention to stage a coup, assuming that the mint was indeed struck after Vespasian&#039;s departure from Alexandria. Generally, we cannot confirm this hypothesis. We can also explain the matter by the new emperor&#039;s attempt to consolidate his son&#039;s position and the rule of the Flavian dynasty after the chaos that ensued during the period following Nero due to his failure to produce sons to inherit the throne after him.<\/p>\n\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"rtl\">For more similar topics, you can browse the Arab collector&#039;s website through <a href=\"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/collectors-have-forgotten-the-rise-of-numismatic-research-in-the-arab-world\/\">the Link<\/a> the next:<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-the-arab-collector wp-block-embed-the-arab-collector\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"KnW9TxcVEM3uDj13MgKXLrhCB6YUaQLb4QXsGTyVuI7YvNolhHfZlyP49Radt2rWzRo87z5Oj050emJdsAbxpS\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"uuCzXSOouc\"><a href=\"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/launch-of-the-encyclopedia-of-qatari-currencies-at-the-exhibition\/\">Launch of the Encyclopedia of Qatari Currencies at the Doha International Book Fair<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cLaunch of the Encyclopedia of Qatari Currencies at the Doha International Book Fair\u201d \u2014 The Arab Collector\" src=\"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/%d8%aa%d8%af%d8%b4%d9%8a%d9%86-%d9%85%d9%88%d8%b3%d9%88%d8%b9%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%85%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d9%85%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%b6-%d8%a7\/embed\/#?secret=FStucSsaer#?secret=uuCzXSOouc\" data-secret=\"uuCzXSOouc\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can money have a smell? Vespasian says (Pecunia non olet). In the heart of Roman history, specifically in 69 AD, one of the strangest taxes ever appeared: the urine tax! It may seem bizarre, but behind this tax lies a fascinating political and economic story, spearheaded by the Roman Emperor Vespasian, the man who uttered his famous phrase: \u201cPecunia non olet,\u201c\u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2090,"featured_media":283082,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wpupg_custom_link":[],"wpupg_custom_link_behaviour":[],"wpupg_custom_link_nofollow":[],"wpupg_custom_image":[],"wpupg_custom_image_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[333,1575,364,1424],"tags":[3039,3033,3044,3035,3045,3026,3041,3040,3038,3037,3034,3036,3042,2374,3043,3030,3031,3028,3023,3025,3029,2538,1200,2534,2533,3027,2537,3024],"class_list":["post-283079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ancient-coins","category-roman-coins","category-historical","category-numismatics","tag-alexandria-mint","tag-ancient-coins","tag-ancient-rome","tag-coin-collecting","tag-historical-taxation","tag-pecunia-non-olet","tag-roman-emperors","tag-roman-empire","tag-roman-gold-coins","tag-roman-history","tag-strange-taxes","tag-titus","tag-urine-tax","tag-vespasian","tag-year-of-the-four-emperors","tag-3030","tag-3031","tag-3028","tag-3023","tag-3025","tag-3029","tag-2538","tag-1200","tag-2534","tag-2533","tag-3027","tag-2537","tag-3024"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2090"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=283079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283079\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/283082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=283079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=283079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arabcollector.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=283079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}