So, a little while back I posted this coin for Titus with the Iovis Custos reverse. I knew that the same type was issued for Vespasian. What is interesting is that the Vespasian Coin comes in 2 varieties left facing and right facing. However, for the Titus coin there is only a right facing example. This coin is quite rare as it is rated as R2 by RIC. After getting the Titus coin I started looking for the Vespasian counterpart. The right facing Vespasian is common but the left facing bust is not, the rarity is given as R2 in RIC (The highest rarity in the new RIC is R3). I have however seen another one of these for sale online recently but I did not like the look of it. Here is the Titus Titus AR Denarius.Under Vespasian 76 CE (first issue) 3.14 g Obv:Leaureate head right, T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN Rev:Jupiter standing facing with patera over altar, IOVIS CUSTOS RIC 863 [VESP] (R2) Purchased from ebay February 21, 2019 And here is my new purchase, the Vespasian. Vespasian AR Denarius 76 CE Rome Obv: Head laureate left; IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG Rev:Jupiter standing facing with patera over altar, IOVIS CUSTOS RIC 850 (R2) Rudnik Numismatics, May 10, 2019 Please post your father and son coins that show a common reverse.
Nice pick-up! However, this is one of those RIC frequency ratings I disagree with. Certainly the left facing portrait is rarer than the right facing - but 'R2 very few examples known'? I think 'rare' would be more accurate. As a matter of fact, I had the left facing variant long before I ever acquired a right!
Very few Severans were shared father and son. Just to be difficult here I will show father Septimius and son Caracalla with very slightly different reverses. Both were issued for both rulers so you can not tell which obverse goes with either. There are husband/wife shares but that is another thread for another day. Brother/brother shares are common but I can't think of a brother/sister match.
Nice catch Andrew. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG laureate head of Vespasian right IOVIS CVSTOS Jupiter standing half-left, sacrificing from patera in right over small lit altar at feet on left, long scepter grounded behind in left Rome, 75 - 76 A.D. 3.458g, die axis 180o RIC II, part 1, 849 (C3); BMCRE III 276; RSC II 222; BnF III 249; SRCV I 2295 Ex-Heritage CICF World and Ancient Coins Signature Auction 3032, part of lot 30530, Ex- Forum T CAESAR - IMP VESPASIANVS Laureate head right IOVIS CVSTOS Jupiter standing front holding patera over altar and scepter Rome Late 76-79 AD 3.53g RIC 874 (C); Sear 2444
Father And good son And the son he probably wanted to forget. I've long believe that Titus' mysterious death quote "I have but one regret" would have probably finished as "...that I did not kill Domitian and adopt someone else." And maybe he did say it, but historians of the time period knew better than to finish the quote for fear of ending on the sands of the arena as lion food.
