A Rare Julia Titi

Believe it or not, this is my first Julia Titi. I have no good answer as to why it has taken me so long to acquire a coin of hers.



Julia Titi
AR Denarius, 3.22g
Rome mint, 80-81 AD
RIC T387 (R). BMC T140, RSC 12
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA T AVG F; Bust of Julia Titi, draped and diademed, r.; hair in long plait
Rev: VENVS AVG; Venus stg. r., leaning on column, with helmet and spear
Acquired from Aegean Numismatics, February 2017.

A rare variant of the 'common' Venus type for Julia Titi with shortened obverse and reverse legends. NB: Julia's denarii were not struck in plentiful numbers.

A quick biographical note about Julia. She was the daughter of Titus born on 13 September 64 and granted the title Augusta sometime in 80 or 81. Coins were issued in her name bearing the new title. After Titus' death she lived with her uncle Domitian at the imperial residence. The ancient sources are quick to malign her reputation in the name of smearing Domitian. It is said she had an ongoing affair with Domitian and became pregnant. She then was forced by Domitian to abort the baby and died during the attempted abortion sometime in 90 or 91. The Flavian historian Brian Jones has called the supposed affair between Domitian and his niece Julia (some ten or eleven years his junior) and the subsequent forced abortion which killed her as "implausible" and "nonsense".

Further he wrote "Scholars seem not to have stressed one of the most significant factors in assessing the rumour's accuracy - Martial's epigram 6.3, written not long after Julia's death and deification. In it, he expresses the hope that Domitian will produce a son, implies that the baby's name will be Julius (6.3.1) and states that (the now deified) Julia will be able to watch over him (6.3.5). Martial was neither a hero or a fool. Had there been the slightest hint of an affair between emperor and niece, he would hardly have written those lines; had Julia's recent death been caused by an abortion forced on her by Domitian, would Martial have so far neglected the bounds of 'safe criticism' and common sense as to humiliate Domitia publicly, urging her to become pregnant, to give the child a name reminiscent of her husband's mistress and finally to remember that same mistress, now dead and deified (thanks to her husband), would be able to protect the child?"

At any rate, I don't think I did too badly with my first coin of Julia Titi.

 

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Nice coin David, I looked at that coin as well. Good buy.

 

The Flavian master does it again. Another nice one.

 

Great coin, and I like the historical analysis too.

 

Nice coin... and better late than never. I was hoping to win myself a Julia Titi yesterday, but it was not to be and she remains on the want list.

 

Beautiful OP Denarius!

I only have a Dupondius of hers:

IVLIA IMP T AVG F AVGVSTA / VESTA S C
Dupondius, Rome 80/81
RIC 180 (Titus), BMC 258, C 18

 

Nice addition! you have sought and found a rare variant within the (only relatively) scarce denarii of Julia Titi. That is a very nice example.

In fact, like you, I have refrained for many years now from buying one of her denarii as I thought the prices asked much exceeded the actual scarcity.
If I was ever to actively seek one, I will definitely do like you.

 

David,
I saw that one just after it was added. I had the funds to go for it and was in the process of adding it to my basket when it became unavailable. I am glad it found a more deserving home than I might have given it.
Great addition.
Regards,
Martin

 

Thanks Martin. A compliment to the piece that you were eyeing it as well.

I procrastinated about this coin for a few days, however, the realisation that I likely won't come across another specimen in similar condition for such a low price ended my inertia. Now my collection is no longer just a 'boys club'!

 

Very cool ... David, congrats on adding that sweet Titi-addition

Yah, all I have is a Diva example of Julia Titi (wanna see it?)

Sestertius
91 AD

 

Nice example, with a lot of eye-appeal. I have only one coin of Julia Titi, this denarius with the more usual, longer legends.


Rome, AD 79-81
3.2 gm, 20.0 mm
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA TITI AVGVSTI F, diademed and draped bust, r.
Rev: VENVS AVGVST, Venus, naked to waist, standing r., holding helmet and scepter, resting l. elbow on column.
Refs: RIC-56; BMCRE-141; Sear-2612

 

VERY NICE David!! I would have been interested in it as well

I can't help but wonder if they all really did have such a startling 'family resemblance' LOL

Cool posts guys!!

 

Flavian engravers at Rome must not have been used to engraving feminine portraits! When was the previous time they had to do so ... Nero?

 

Very nice catch David, congrats!

 

This continues on into later series too. Severina often looks like Aurelian for example.

 

Great coin, David. Need her myself.

 

Oh and Galeria Valeria isn't typically the most feminine depiction.

 

Very nice coin

 

I love how Julia Titi looks like Vespasian dressed in drag.

Compare the coin to a bust of hers and you'll see the celators simply took a bust of Vespasian and added a wig to make it look like a woman, and carved the dies.

 

A flavian enthusiast as you are David had to have a Julia Titi denarius


Julia Titi, Denarius minted in Rome, c.79-81 AD
IVLIA AVGVSTA T AVG F, Bust of Julia right
VENVS AVG, Venus leaning on a column, holding helmet and sceptre
3.03 gr
Ref : Cohen #12, RCV #2611

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