Claudius Sestertii SPES REVERSES - first one with yellow bronze patina - the second a TITUS Restitution issue. RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 99 41-50 AD, (36mm, 25.3gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and raising skirt with left hand Inscription: SPES AVGVSTA - S C (exergue) RIC Vol. II, TITUS, SESTERTIUS - CLAUDIUS RESTITUTION ISSUE, Rome, No. 234 80-81 AD, (34.5mm, 24.3gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and raising skirt with left hand Inscription: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C (left and right) I very much want to learn as much as I can about this fascinating coinage. At present I know very little. I am frustrated by what I see as a lack of scholarly references and research material - my frequent Google (et al) online searches have yielded very little - most of the information I have gleaned so far has come from antiquated references. How antiquated? Well, 1890s vintage writings by Jobert, Bimard, Eckhel ..... et al. Following is what I have learned so far (random - not in any particular order) CAVEAT: much of it is my own interpretation of material in those references - I willingly stand to be corrected on any point or conclusion: 1. Official Restitution coinage was only issued (in order) under the auspices of Titus, Domitian, Nerva and Trajan. 2. Only Trajan issued Restitution coinage in silver. 3. Restitution coinage was struck to honor highly regarded former Emperors and their families. 4. This coinage resulted from a joint venture between the Senate and ruling Emperor. 5. Titus was the first Emperor to issue Restitution coinage. 6. A sense of extraordinary civic accomplishments by the honored Emperors (and their families) was the motivation for the issue of Restitution coins. 7. Restitution coins were struck from newly made dies of superior fabrication that produced coins that closely replicated original coins - sometimes superior in appearance. 8. Restitution coins were legal tender and circulated alongside current coinage. 9. Official Restitution coins were always marked REST as part of the reverse legend. I solicit, and wholeheartedly welcome, all input: additions, corrections, suggestions, etc.
Both excellent coins! I definitely like the patina on the first, but the portrait on your 2nd is wonderful. I know very little about restoration issues as well and can't offer an input.
An exception to the rest is the 200th anniversary of Actium denarius of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. My favorite parts of this coin are the legend changes that had to be made to update the original. Antony used ANT AVG but ANT now could be confused with Antoninus so they had to spell out ANTONIVS. Mark Antony held the office of Augur which he abbreviated AVG but when Octavian took Augustus using that same abbreviation, the 200 year later coin had to spell out AVGVR, too. These were only made in LEG VI. Does anyone know why?
Might this be a commemorative rather than a restitution coin? Or is this getting too pedantic - an interpretation of terminology? Edit: please see the reply by @Severus Alexander and my misread of the coin.
Given the legend ("REST"), I think it qualifies as a restitution issue. I have also wondered about this. Looking around just now, it seems the leading hypothesis is that Legio VI Ferrata was the one that entered Ctesiphon with Verus in 165 at the end of his Parthian campaign (resulting in his "Parthicus" title). Some include Victory on the reverse, which would fit with this. Maybe those without Victory were issued before the entry into Ctesiphon, but one would expect Leg VI to have had a special status with Verus, if it's the legion with which he chose to share his triumphant entry into the city. Great coin, in any case!
Both fantastic coins James, I have a soft spot for Restitution coinage as well. Minted under Domitian, Claudius advancing on his restitution issue AE AS Rome 81-82 AD, Sear 2899, 9.3gm. Tiberius, Restitution issue under Titus, Rome 80-81, 27mm, 11.1gm, RIC 432.
