My Best and Greatest Coin of the Year

Over the weekend I was thrilled to receive this very rare Titus cistophorus.


Titus
AR Cistophorus (3 denarii)
Rome mint (for Asia), 80-81 AD
RIC 515 (R), BMC spec. acquired 1948, RSC - , RPC 860 (4 spec.)
Obv - IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: CAPIT across field, RESTIT in exergue; Temple of Capitoline Jupiter with 4 columns enclosing figures of Juno, seated Jupiter and Minverva
26mm, 10.64g.

In 80 AD while Titus was away in Campania surveying the damage Vesuvius had caused in the region the previous Fall, a devastating fire broke out in Rome, damaging much of the city center. One of the most important buildings affected by the fire was the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter, rebuilt recently by Vespasian. It being the most sacred and important building in Rome, Titus began rebuilding it immediately. Construction was still ongoing when Titus died of natural causes in September of 81. A cistophorus commemorating the rebuilding of the structure was struck for Domitian but it was not until 1948 with the discovery of this reverse type for Titus when the BM acquired a specimen was the type known to be minted for Titus. Needless to say it is extremely rare. Since 1948 seven other examples have surfaced, four of which are in public collections. This cistophorus was minted in Rome for export to Asia Minor. The style and die axis are similar to the denarii from Rome during the same period, firmly placing it to that mint. This coin is an obverse die match with Gemini IX, lot 458.

Here are the other seven examples I'm aware of: ANS, BM, Bern Museum, Paris, Gemini IX lot 458, CNG lot 1298, Lanz 94 lot 339.

This is a reconstruction of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus.



Curiously, although the building featured six front columns, only four are depicted on my coin. Statues of the deities Juno, Jupiter (seated) and Minverva can be seen between the columns on the coin but not in this artist's rendition of the structure.

 

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Saw it on your Forvm gallery. It's a lovely coin & love the reverse especially. Congrats, definitely special.

At this time I still own no Cistophorus tets.

 

Thanks Mat!

If you want to get a Flavian cistophorus somewhat cheaply, look for those struck for Domitian as Caesar under Titus. They are still a bit pricey but not astronomically so like those for Titus and Domitian as Augustus.

 

I actually had a Domitian cistophorus in the mail I was excited for earlier this year as a late x-mas treat, went MIA in NY customs, even going to the P.O. didn't help. So I would have one but don't.

But I got my Claudius Tet. instead, so it worked out.

 

What a wonderful coin, aesthetic and historic! Congratulations

 

Sweet coin, V70 => curious though, what are those amazingly cool figures in the roof?

 

Ah yes, the black hole of NY ISC. Many a fine coin has not made it through that gauntlet.

 

No kidding, many Lucilla Denarii of years past are stuck in the abyss too.

 

In the center is a facing quadriga and at the corners are facing bigas. It must've been difficult for the engraver to get them accurately. The building was not completed when the coin was struck, so presumably this is how it appeared after Vespasian rebuilt the structure after it was destroyed during the Civil War in 69.

 

I'd hate to think some postal employee in NY is x-raying packages and swiping coins. That's a shame about those coins. If that's not what happened and they are simply lost in the building, perhaps thousands of years in the future when archaeologists escavate there they'll be so perplexed they'll be theorizing the Romans made it to the New World due to all the Roman coinage in the ruins, or perhaps think it was a fine institution of ancient studies called the "Customs," where the finest ancient coin numismatists in the world were trained.

 

I absolutely LOVE it !!!

It would be one of my ultimate favorites!!

Congrats 'V' !!

 

awesome indeed V70, congrats to you.....sweet rare denomination, 3 gods, a quadriga, a temple.


WIN!

 

Oh, wow, absolutely love that temple reverse. That's an outstanding acquisition... congrats!!

 

Magnificent example of an important coin. Congratulations!

 

Jaw dropping coin Mr. David, absolutely amazing.

 

cool

 

Wanna trade? It's a very nice and interesting coin. Congrats.

 

Another fantastic addition to your collection David, congrats.

 

Thank you all for the kind comments. And I ask forgiveness for the punny title to the thread.

 

I think I understand why it's your best coin of 2015. Great reverse on it and very intersting story about it

Thanks for sharing David
Q