I was quite excited to recently have won this iconic Titus Judaea Capta sestertius. Received it over a week ago and I'm still mooning over it! Titus Æ Sestertius, 25.80g Rome mint, 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, l. Rev: IVD CAP across field; S C in exergue; Palm tree; to l., Judaea std. l. on arms; to r., Captive stg. r., looking back RIC 149 (C). BMC 165. BNC 157. Hendin 1592. Ex Bertolami E-Live Auction 236, 24-25 September 2022, lot 800. The Jewish War was a gift that kept on giving for the Flavian dynasty. This rare Judaea Capta commemorative sestertius was struck a decade after the fall of Jerusalem for Titus as Augustus. The new emperor wished to remind the Roman populace of his military bona fides and his part in the Jewish War. This later variant of the type differs from those stuck under Vespasian by the shortened reverse legend (IVD CAP instead of IVDAEA CAPTA) and the presence of an oblong shield or yoke(?) to the right of the standing captive. COS VIII dates the coin to either 80 or 81, although it's possible the IVD CAP types were struck in 80 to coincide with the opening of the massive Flavian Amphitheater. A recently discovered dedicatory inscription of the building states "The Emperor Titus Caesar Vespasian Augustus Commanded the New Amphitheater to be Built from the Spoils of War." Combined with the original decoration scheme of palm trees, shields, and captives it is compelling evidence the IVD CAP coins were issued during the structure's inaugural games in the late spring or early summer of 80. Titus's Judaea Capta sestertii are much rare than those struck for Vespasian. Finding them in trade, unlike Vespasian's, can be quite difficult! Thanks for looking!
@david Nice! Congrats! And it was, after all, Titus, not his Daddy Vespy, who was actually there onsite, leading the Roman army at the time the city was finally captured. I have a Vespasian Capta sestertius, but not (yet) a Titus Capta sestertius :-( But I do have a few non-sestertius Titus Capta coins, including... Titus as Caesar, "Judaea Capta" Denarius. AR Denarius, struck in Antioch, 72-73 A.D. Obv.: T CAES IMP VESP PON TR POT; Titus’ head, laureate, r., bust draped. Rev.: No legend. Titus, in triumphal quadriga, r.; holding branch and sceptre. Attrib.: Hendin 6th 6523 (5th 1493). Cohen 395. RIC II 1563. RPC II 1935. [CNG Auction 194, Lot # 233.] Notes: Considered part of the Judea Capta series. This reverse specifically commemorates the Judea Capta Triumphal Parade held in June of 71 A.D.
I believe my denarius of Domitian Caesar is related to the triumphal parade: DOMITIAN, as Caesar under Vespasian, AR silver denarius. Rome, 73 AD. CAES AVG F DOMIT COS II, laureate head right. Reverse - Domitian, togate, riding on horse prancing left, holding sceptre in left hand and raising right. Cohen 664, BMC Vespasian 129, RIC Vespasian 608.
I think you are correct. 'While taking part in the Judaean triumph, he (Domitian) rode on a white horse.' (Suetonius, Domitian, ii)
Indeed! Here's a bronze dupondius version of that same historical event: DOMITIAN, Caesar. 69-81 AD. Æ Dupondius Struck in Rome under Vespasian 72/73 A.D. Obv.: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II, laureate, draped bust right. Rev.: PRINCIP-IV VENT, Domitian on horseback, left, holding scepter, raising r. hand. S-C below. Weight: 13.74 gr. Diam.: 28 mm. Attrib.: RIC II.1 662 (Vespsian). Cohen 400. Paris 696. BMC 686 Notes: Dark green patina. For his victory from the war in Judea, the Senate awarded Titus a Roman triumph. On the day of the festivities, the Flavian family rode into the capital, preceded by a lavish parade to display the spoils of the war. The family procession was headed by Vespasian & Titus, and Domitian, riding a magnificent white horse followed with the remaining Flavian relatives. -- Suetonius, Life of Domitian
Beautiful and you are right - much more rare than Vespasian. Did Domitian ever do a Judea Capta sestertius?
Probably the closest Domitian came to his own Judaea Capta series were the bronzes struck for him as Caesar under Vespasian and Titus by Agrippa II. Victory is the prominent reverse design and with the Jewish War having been the last major conflict prior to them being stuck, one can confidently assume they are related to it. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=195322 https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=195289 The Victory bronzes later struck by Agrippa II for Domitian as Augustus likely refer to his own campaigns in Germania. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=179271 https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=192993 https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=195138 https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=169120 https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=195578
Wow, a Judaea Capta sestertius is impressive. Here is the only Judaea Capta coin I have owned (in my first 12 Caesars collection). All I have left of it are these bad pictures.
An even larger Domitian bronze that is a conceivable candidate for the Judaea Capta series (Hendin's 6th ed. places it in that group) is Hendin 6482 / RPC II 2305. For a pro's-and-con's list in regards to it being a Judaea Capta type, see the following helpful post by @Parthicus . . . https://www.cointalk.com/threads/judaea-capta-of-domitian.301534/
I used to sit on the fence regarding the meaning of this reverse type. Now, I'm fairly convinced it refers to the contemporaneous campaigns in Germania. His titulature on the obverse actually names him Germanicus! Here is what I wrote about the type in my Forvm gallery: 'The Roman authorities of Caesarea Maritima, capital of the province of Judaea, struck several issues of bronze coinage with Latin legends for local circulation under Domitian. This undated middle bronze featuring Domitian's title 'Germanicus' in the obverse legend must post date 83, the probable year of his Germanic victory over the Chatti. The Roman style Minerva reverse mirrors contemporaneous Rome types and hints at close coordination with the central authorities back in Rome. This extremely common type likely commemorates Domitian's Chattan victory.' Domitian was very eager to celebrate his own military achievements.
No doubt that's true. Poor guy, he grew up in the long shadows of his father and even his older brother. Instead of whining, "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!", his cry may well have been, "Titus, Titus, Titus!" The fact that GERMANICVS is in the legend of this coin type(s) is a strong argument for Germania Capta.
True, but I still weep no tears for his memory. Sounds to me like he deserved his ultimate fate, if sources are to be believed. Then again, though bad, I guess he was far from the worst.
My ancient collection includes MANY rulers for whom I would weep no tears for their memory. I include them for the key roles they played in history. Hmmm... I'm having to exercise self-control right now to avoid writing a list of such rulers I have. It would be a long list. LOL!
Yes, the “bad boys” are indeed fun to collect. From a safe historical distance, tyrants can be interesting. They certainly made for some interesting stories.
Then again, though bad, I guess he was far from the worst.[/@philologus_1 QUOTE] No doubt that's true. Poor guy, he grew up in the long shadows of his father and even his older brother. Instead of whining, "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!", his cry may well have been, "Titus, Titus, Titus!" of Domitian ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nice coins! Here's another bronze of Domitian looking for a share of Judaea Capta credit. Below it is a denarius of "Marsha's," which would likely prompt Domitian, after comparing it to his inferior example, to make his wistful "Titus,Titus,Titus!!" cry. Especially when he notes bubba's left-facing pose- always trying to get attention!! Judaea. Caesarea Maritima. Domitian (81-96 AD). AE (19 mm, 6.16 g). Judaea Capta issue.Struck circa 92-93 A.D. [IMP] DOMIT AVG [GERM], laureate head of Domitian right. / VICTOR AVG, trophy. Meshorer 390; Hendin 1460 (5th Ed), 6487 (6th Ed). Scarce. Titus, 79-81. AR Denarius (18 mm, 3.27 g, 7 h). Rome mint, 79 AD, after 1st of July. [IMP] TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M (outward); laureate head of Titus to left. Rev. TR P VIIII IMP XIIII COS VII P P; male Jewish captive kneeling right at base of trophy of arms with hands bound behind his back. Hendin 1583a (5th Ed), 6614a (6th Ed). RIC 31 (R2). Very rare with portrait left. Scrape and scratches in obverse field left, otherwise, very fine. Hendin 6th Ed Rarity: R1 for 6614 generally, not cited for 6614a (portrait left). Trying to make peace between his squabbling sons, Vespasian steps in and makes Titus post his bronze example from Caesarea Maritima. "Fine. It's still a nicer one!," Marsha/Titus proclaims! JUDAEA, Judaea Capta. Titus. 79-81 CE. Æ (24mm, 14.03 g, 12h). Caesarea Maritima mint. Laureate head right / Judaea seated in attitude of mourning at base of trophy; shield to right. Meshorer 384; Hendin 1449; RPC II 2313. Good VF, earthen green patina. Vespasian sighs and tells his eldest to just stay focused on finishing the Flavian Ampitheater. "Those third and fourth tiers aren't going to construct themselves!," he chides. "Your brother is your brother," he reminds him; then follows with, "Well, you do want a long reign don't you?" Domitian just piles on with, "And don't forget the hypogeum!"
A very nice trio of coins @Carl Wilmont! The accompanying dialogue threaded them together in an imaginative and cleverly-humorous way. Re-reading this post all together as a whole led me to thinking. Surely Domitian had to have had some feelings of jealousy and envy toward Titus after having grown-up in his long shadow. I know the writings of both Suetonius and Cassius Dio indicate some sibling-rivalry was present, with Domitian being the aggressor (passive and otherwise) against his older brother Titus. Those historians also mention that after Titus’ death, Domitian took shots at Titus in speeches and by doing away with what had become an annual horse-racing competition in celebration of Titus’ birthday. Thinking along these lines can add a flavor to Domitian’s construction of that hypogeum that @Carl Wilmont mentioned, since adding the hypogeum meant that the colosseum’s arena floor could no longer be flooded for the mock naval battles that Titus had so gloriously initiated. Was that perhaps Domitian's intentional act to slight his brother – or maybe to take away something from Titus' fruit? But on the other side of the coin, looking at Domitian’s multiple Divus Titus issues shows what can be interpreted as a desire to honor his brother. (Not to mention that he finished the Arch of Titus after Titus’ death.) Of course the coins and the arch could have been acts purely in Domitian’s own best interest, to publicly bridge and anchor himself into Flavian unity, while also leveraging his brother’s popularity and military successes to help ensure job-security. Emperors always desired more renown to beef up their job-security. And we see that motivation at work in Domitian through what @David Atherton wrote above, "Domitian was very eager to celebrate his own military achievements." Just as his older brother Titus had done through the large sestertius in this thread's O.P. And just as his father Vespasian had done through this sestertius: Vespasian, Emperor, AD 69-79. JUDAEA CAPTA commemorative series. Æ Orichalcum Sestertius. Struck in Rome, AD 71. Obv.: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM TR P P P COS III. Laureate head, right. Rev.: IVDEA CAPTA, SC ex.; palm tree, mourning Jewess sitting to the right, male captive standing left, behind him a pile of weapons, shields and helmet. Diameter: 34.4 mm. Weight: 26.3 grams. Attrib.: RIC II, part 1, 161 (R2). Hendin 6530.b. BMC 534. Notes: Full centering, complete legend. Many examples (if not most examples) of these types have been noticeably smoothed or tooled. On this exemplar the obverse has had only slight smoothing behind the head and in front of the nose and chin area, while the reverse is original with no smoothing/tooling. [Purchased from FORVM; ex-Jeff Michniak collection.]
