Many months ago when I first laid eyes on this coin in Vcoins I fell in love and placed it as the number one coin on my personal want list. One thing or another delayed the purchase, plus, the seller is in Europe and I didn't want the hassle of an overseas shipment during the holidays. In the meantime, I crossed my fingers and hoped no one else noticed it sitting in the seller's store. Luckily, no one did! The coin arrived speedily from Europe last week. Titus Æ Sestertius, 22.74g Rome mint, 80-81 AD RIC 155 (C). BMC 171. Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, l. Rev: PAX AVGVST; S C in field; Pax stg. l., with branch and cornucopiae Acquired from Marti Numismatics, January 2019. Pax was a fairly common reverse type struck for Titus. This particular Pax with branch and cornucopiae is a carry-over from Vespasian's coinage. Apparently, the propaganda value of peace was quite limitless. Admittedly, the piece is quite worn but despite the wear it features one of the most magnificent coin portraits of Titus I have come across in either silver or bronze. Truly the work of a master engraver! There is one peculiar thing I have noticed about Titus' bronze coinage, the left facing portraits tend to be in a finer style than the right facing ones. Perhaps a talented engraver at the mint preferred his portraits facing left? Feel free to share your worn beauties!
I have a worn (and corroded) left facing Titus Sestertius, too: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P PP COS VIII / ANNONA AVG Sestertius, Rome 80 33 mm / 18,91 gr RIC 86, C 16
Looks great, and thank you for the short explanation about the coin. Some days ago I wanted to bid on 4 Roman coins, and then I resisted myself, since I really need to focus my budget on Greek coins. However, the Roman coins keep attracting me, both historical wise and coin wise. I think I need to stop looking at Roman coins here on this forum . This were the 4 coins I wanted to go for, please don't tell I made a big mistake not going for one of them. Arcadius. AD 383-408. AE Maiorina. Constantinople mint. (RIC IX 53b) Constantius I. As Caesar, A.D. 293-305. Lugdunum mint, struck A.D. 294. (RIC VI 1). Pontos. Amisos . Antoninus Pius AD 138-161. Drachm AR. Diva Faustina I AD 140-141. Rome. Denarius AR
Well-worn Titus with a misshapen flan. It's not attractive in spite of its faults; it's attractive because of its faults.
Great new, warm-colored Titus, David! I bet it feels great in hand! My fave is a Titus issue as well... But a restoration issue of Augustus. I just love the portrait on it, so much so that it's my avatar. And, though it's corroded, I'm surprised at how nicely the bust survived, and is one of my favorites to just oogle at. There were some very skilled celators in that era!
David Atherton, I agree with the title of your thread Fine Style Can Overcome Almost Anything, however, I like coins in choice condition, E.F. or better .
Here's my worn Aurelius (as Caesar) drachm of Alexandria. Type is supposedly quite rare due to the reverse (Elpis).
Pavlos: I have seen and owned Hadrian and Faustina silver coins of Amisos, but I have never seen an Antoninus Pius! It must be exceedingly rare.
Great portrait of Titus David. I bought this Antoninus Pius Sestertius a few years back because although worn it is a very hard coin to get in good condition and has the temple of Roma in fine style. ANTONINUS PIUS Scarce. AE Sestertius. 24.09g, 32.3mm. Rome mint, AD 141-143
My Titus sestertius had to overcome bronze disease on the reverse but the obverse is my favorite Titus.
Unfortunately I don't have any of the 4, I wanted to go for them but on the other side my focus is mainly in Greek coins, and resisted myself on bidding. I would have loved to own both the Faustina one and the Antoninus, maybe I should have bid on them after all. Makes a nice pair as well, husband and wife. I read that the Constantius I coin is rare as well, first emission if i'm not wrong. @PeteB Indeed, I can only find very few examples on the web, I should have went for it, especially because the city Amisos has a special place in my collection. The coin does is quite scratched unfortunately.
Ah yes, the age old question - style versus condition. Personally, I'll choose style every time. The perfect solution is a fine style EF, but I fear such a coin would be too expensive for me to worry about!