Another coin I couldn't pass up because of its rich history. Titus as Caesar Æ As, 10.08g Rome mint, 73 AD (Vespasian) RIC 635 (R). BMC - . BNF 688. Obv: T CAES IMP PON TR P COS II CENS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: S C in exergue; Titus stg. r., with branch and sceptre, in quadriga r. Acquired from Marc Breitsprecher, September 2019. In 71 AD Vespasian and Titus held a double triumph celebrating their victory in the recently concluded Judaean War. The spectacular triumph was held a few days after Titus' arrival from the East in June and could be viewed as his effective homecoming party. Mary Beard has shrewdly observed that the triumph served as 'the Flavian coronation, the official launch party and press night of the Flavian dynasty.' It was the first time after Vespasian's rise to the purple that the whole family could be seen together by the Roman populace. Vespasian and Titus were identically dressed riding in matching quadrigas while Domitian trotted alongside on a splendid mount. By showcasing his eldest son on an equal footing in the procession, it left little doubt who would succeed after his death. Coins were struck in all metals to commemorate the event. Here is a rare As with a reverse depicting Titus Caesar in a triumphal quadriga, a clear commemoration of the joint triumph. Oddly, this type is more commonly seen in silver from Antioch. The piece serves as a superb memento of the 'Greatest Show on Earth' triumph put on by the Flavian regime in the late First century. Not in the BM. RIC cites only a specimen in the Paris collection (BNF 688). I really don't mind acquiring worn bronzes like this, at least I can say they are not tooled or smoothed. NB: This As shares the same reverse design with a rare sestertius. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1192&pos=4 Feel free to post any worn coins that you're quite proud to have.
A worn coin I'm proud to own? How about this one of Cleopatra VII -- yes, THAT Cleopatra. I can't afford a higher grade example.
Nice! I think that one has plenty of character in addition to the history. Here are a couple of worn coins that I really love and am proud of owning. VESPASIAN AR Denarius. 3.05g, 18.4mm. Rome mint, 21 October 69 - early 70. RIC 2; Cohen 226; BMC 35; Hendin 1479. O: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right. R: Judaea seated right on ground in attitude of mourning, trophy set on shields behind her; IVDAEA in exergue. Ex Prof. Dr. Hildebrecht Hommel Collection, with tag noting acquisition date 15 Feb 1943 AUGUSTUS AR Denarius. 3.23g, 20.1 x 17.2mm. Pergamum mint, 27 BC. RIC I 475; RSC 28. O: CAESAR, bare head right. R: AVGVSTVS, bull standing right. ANTONINUS PIUS AE Drachm. 26.83g, 33.5mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 5 = AD 141/2. Emmett 1628 (R3); Dattari 2776; RPC Online 14830. O: Laureate head right. R: Nilus seated right on rocks upon which a crocodile climbs, Alexandria-Euthenia wearing elephant-skin headdress standing left, holding corn ears and sistrum; [L E] in exergue. Ex Robert L. Grover Collection of Roman-Egyptian Coinage, previously held by the Art Institute of Chicago (1981.413) DIDIA CLARA AE Sestertius. 18.24g, 30.0mm. Rome mint, AD 193. Struck under Didius Julianus. RIC 20; Cohen 4. O: DIDIA CLARA AVG, draped bust right. R: HILAR TEMPOR, Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm in extended right hand and cornucopiae in left hand; S-C across field. Ex Dr. Rainer Pudill Collection
Nice one David. I can see why you were attracted to it. Here is one of my favourite worn coins. I bought it because it is a rare left facing Domitian denarius. The fact that it is a left facing denarius for Domitian as Caesar instead of as Augustus makes it even rarer. If you see a left facing Domitian denarius...grab it. Domitian RIC 1085 [Vespasian]
Very worn but my favorite coin: Imperatorial Era: Octavian/Augustus and Divus Julius Caesar, Orichalcum Sestertius, 29mm, Italian Mint, 38 BC. Obv: CAESAR DIVI F bare head of Octavian right. R: DIVOS IVLIVS laureate head of Julius Caesar right (here I show the reverse on the left of the photo.. JC deserves top billing).
The thread title could easily be my collections title! Very Cool Titus coin. The portrait, though worn, looks to have been done in a very fine style. And of course nice Mary Beard quote. That said, here are some of my favorite "beaters": SICILY. Syracuse. Deinomenid Tyranny 485-466 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm - 17.45 g). Struck circa 480-475 BC. Charioteer driving walking quadriga right, holding kentron and reins; Nike flying above crowning horses / Diademed head of Arethusa right, surrounded by four dolphins swimming clockwise. Boehringer 134 (V60/R93); SNG ANS 38 (same dies); Randazzo -. rev sl off-ctr, sl surface imperfections,most notably a horizontal scratchlike flaw in obv right field. Julius Caesar P. Sepullius Macer - Venus Denarius, lifetime issue Feb-March 44 BC. Moneyer P. Sepullius Macer. Obv: CAESAR DICT PERPETVO legend with laureate and veiled head of Gaius Julius Caesar right. Rev: P SEPVLLIVS MACER legend with Venus standing left, holding Victory in right hand, and sceptre set on shield in left. 20mm, 3.18 grams. Crawford 480/13; Sydenham 1074; RSC 39; Sear 1414. Fine. Scarce. Ex-Savoca Britannicus, with Octavia and Antonia Mysia, Kyzikos, AD.41-55. AE (12mm, 1.29g). NЄOC ΓЄPMANIKOC / K - Y. Bare head of Britannicus right. / AN OKTA. Confronted and draped busts of Antonia and Octavia. RPC 2248. Rare! Former Kairos Numismatik Julia Titi (Daughter of Titus)AE Dupondius Empress. 10.76 grams 27mm Rome AD 279-80 Obv IVLIA IMP T AVG F AVGVSTA Draped bust of Julia right hair in bun Rv CERES AVGVST S C Ceres standing left holding corn ears and long torch Sear 2615 RIC Titus 177 Former: fvrisus.rvfvs Livia as Julia Augusta Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 22. Decorated carpentum drawn r. by two mules / Legend around large S •, RIC Tiberius 51. 23.1g, 36mm, 9h. Brass-brown tone Former: lorddeibi6 Richard III 1483-1485 CE, Silver Groat, type III, London mint, crowned facing bust, within tressure of nine arcs, large fleur on six cusps, initial sun and rose 3 both sides, rev long cross pattée, tri-pellets in each inner angle, twin concentric legends and beaded circles surrounding, 2.71g (N 1679; S 2157). And I'll end with a Judean to compliment your new Titus... Pontius Pilate (Procurator 26-36 CE). AE Prutah, Jerusalem mint, 30-31 AD. D/ Lituus. TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC. Dated RY 17 of Tiberius (30 CE R/ LIZ within wreath. RPC 4968. Hendin 649. AE. g. 1.95 mm. 16.00 About VF. Former Artemide Kunstauktionen
Postumus AE Double Sestertius. Worn and weirdly patinated, with an interesting rendition of the emperor standing on the reverse wearing a helmet.
AGRIPPA AE As OBVERSE: M AGRIPPA L F COSIII - Head left, wearing rostral crown REVERSE: No legend - Neptune standing left, holding dolphin and trident; S C across fields Rome 37-41 AD 11.0g, 28mm RIC58, BMC 161, BN77, C3 DRUSUS AE As OBVERSE: DRVSVS CAESAR T I AVG F DIVI AVG N - Bare head left REVERSE: IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG REST - Legend around large S C in center Struck at Rome 80AD 9.4g, 24mm RIC216, S2594
Love having this one, I consider myself very fortunate to have it in my collection: It doesn't look like much, but it's an AE Shekel of Jerusalem. There are only a few known to exist and their purpose is a mystery. David Hendin wrote an article about them in the Celator back in 1992. But, I haven't heard of any updated information. I got this from our good friend @Valentinian. Erin
As much as I appreciate high grade coins, any good collection also needs some coins that were actually used by people in ancient times. Some of my favorites; mostly stand-ins for coins I couldnt otherwise afford: Julius Caesar AR Denarius, minted a few weeks before his death Augustus provincial of Berytus, Phoenicia under Quinctilius Varus Tiberius Gemellus, one of only two coins depicting the grandson of Tiberius, and the only one that depicts him not as an infant A nice budget Otho, only cost me about $100 instead of $800 Plotina - about as good as you can get without going $200+ (This one has her name in Greek behind the bust - I consider this imperative when collecting provincials of scarce rulers) Budget Pertinax! Clodius Albinus as usurper against Severus and Caracalla - also an important GENIO LVG reverse
A nice Titus Judaea Capta sestertius: Titus, as Caesar; 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius. "JUDAEA CAPTA" issue. Rome mint. Struck 72 AD. Obv: Laureate head right. Rev: Titus standing in triumphal quadriga rig ht, holding scepter and branch. The chariot is ornamented with Nike standing r. holding wreath in outstretched arm. “S.C” in ex.. RIC II, 611 (Vespasian); Hendin 790, fourth edition, except differing obverse legend. Like the OP's, but sestertius. Pardon the misspelled file name.
IMITATIVE CLAUDIUS SPES SESTERTIUS WITH DEVALUATION COUNTERMARK Large quantities of imitative Roman aes coins - some of poor quality but also some of reasonably good quality - were produced in Britain during this period using spurious dies. In order to help relieve pervasive coin shortages, quantities of reasonably well made imitative coins were occasionally accepted by Roman officials for circulation. Many coins were countermarked to indicate their official status and in some instances to denote re-valuation of coinage denomination. Pangeri 85d, (30mm, 15.2gm) Countermarked DV (denoting half value) on obverse. Enlargement of DV countermark: This is a devaluation countermark indicating this coin is re-valued as a Dupondius (half value) due to its very low weight. Note edge chisel mark on the obverse at approx. 3 o'clock which is always present on DV countermarked coins.
IMITATIVE CLAUDIUS OB CIVES SERVATOS SESTERTIUS WITH COUNTERMARK BMCRE, Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 120, 41-45AD (38mm, 29.2gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP Countermarked PROB Mattingly note - Cmk. in oblong incuse in front of neck and face; end of legend obliterated Reverse depiction: Civic Oak Wreath Inscription in four lines: EX SC O B C I V E S SERVATOS (within Civic Oak Wreath) Enlargement of PROB countermark: PROB (Probatum = approved) countermark. I believe this to be an irregular issue coin (struck from locally made unofficial dies). Note the flattened and bulged area on the reverse resulting from the very heavily struck countermark on the obverse which was carelessly positioned almost off the flan. The inscriptional lettering on the reverse is somewhat uneven and not very well formed.
I should add that the letter SC appear on the reverse but I am not sure that it means Senatus Consulto - if so, which Senate, Rome's or somewhere in the western territory that Postumus controlled?