The Fairness of Titus

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by David Atherton, May 20, 2019.

  1. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    My newest addition is a perfect compliment to Titus' posthumous reputation. Aequitas! It was a favourite type for both himself and Vespasian.


    T215b.jpg
    Titus
    Æ As, 9.73g
    Rome mint, 80-81 AD
    RIC 215 (C). BMC 204.
    Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, l.
    Rev: AEQVITAS AVGVST; S C in field; Aequitas stg. l., with scales and rod
    Ex eBay, 10 May 2019.

    Titus produced a sizeable bronze issue in 80-81. He did not renew the consulship in 81, so it is difficult to pin down a precise date. Owing to the issue's large size it is likely many of the coins did indeed spill over into 81. Here we see a common Aequitas type from that large issue which was originally struck under Vespasian, who in turn copied it from Galba. Aequitas likely represents fairness in issuing out the corn dole.

    Worn, but I think it still has plenty of eye-appeal.

    Feel free to post your 'fair' coins!
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2019
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  3. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Great coin David. I know we discussed this before but I still see a portrait that looks more like Domitian than Titus. Here's one of my Titus coins, not fair but happy...

    TitusFelicitas.jpg
    T CAESAR IMP COS V
    Radiate head right

    FELICITAS PVBLICA
    Felicitas, wearing long dress and cloak, standing facing, diademed head turned left, holding cornucopiae in her left hand, laurel branch in her raised right hand. SC in field

    Rome, 76 AD

    12.17g

    RIC 909 Vespasian (R)

    Rare.

    Ex-ANE

    Gemini notes: "COS V bronzes of Titus are scarce: only one such As, no dupondii or sestertii, in the BM collection by 1976."
     
  4. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    Well, since you asked for any Aequitas coinage, here's my Mr. Spock as Philip I, with an Aequitas reverse. Almost looks as if Mr. Spock got stuck in a time warp and spent a few months in ancient Rome impersonating Philip the Arab.

    And yeah, the resemblance to Mr. Spock is the main reason I bid on this coin in the first place. :p

    Philip I Ant 246AD.jpg

    Spock-star-trek-2009-6140175-1024-768.jpg


    Uhm, I'm not a Trekkie though....definitely not. :rolleyes:. We don't do Star Trek stuff in my home, and my Avatar being Mr. Spock is just a coincidence. Just ask my son....

    IMG_20190520_083901.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2019
  5. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Some of my Aequitas coins:

    Etruscilla AEQVITAS AVGG.jpg
    Etruscilla AEQVITAS AVG Banduri Listing.JPG

    Trebonianus Gallus AEQVITAS AVG Antioch antoninianus.jpg
    Trebonianus Gallus AEQVITAS AVG antoninianus Sulzer listing.JPG

    Tacitus AEQVITAS antoninianus.jpg
    Tacitus AEQVITAS antoninianus Sulzer listing.JPG
     
  6. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Nice addition, David.
     
    David Atherton likes this.
  7. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Great coin David, I like the visual aspect of it very much. Must be nice to hold in hand.
     
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  8. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    My Annona is a sestertius and the Aequitas is an as.
    rb1390bb1090.jpg rb1395bb3055.jpg
    That is exactly the way I see it. You have heard the term 'Bread and Circuses'. Well fed and entertained masses don't riot as often as those with nothing to lose.
     
  9. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    This is a bit of a long story so bear with me. Back in the day when my primary interest was belt fed automatic weapons something of a separatist movement to hold here in Alberta. The one overriding theme was equality and fairness. " The west wants in (or else)" was a major rallying cry. Later as I became interested in the eastern denarii and antoninianii of the Roman Empire I noticed that a lot of the coins featured Aequitas. Given my background, I couldn't help but think that either these coins were a call for equality by the local populations in the east or promises by the Emperor to address this concern.
    1.Antoninianus of Philip I Antioch RIC 82 var 244-249 A.D.
    2. Antoninianus of Philip II Antioch RIC- 244-249 A.D. philsnr3.JPG philjnr3.JPG
     
  10. philologus_1

    philologus_1 Supporter! Supporter

    Upon David's invitation to "post your 'fair' coins", and in keeping with his Titus -- my mind turned to a fair/rare coin in my collection. It is RPC II 2012; McAlee 382; Vagi 1310. I've been unable to find a single example online other than this one. Despite its fairness it has enough detail to conclusively attribute. I'm proud to have this piece of 1st Jewish Revolt history!
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    That's a lovely coin!
     
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  12. Orielensis

    Orielensis Well-Known Member

    Nice new acquisition! Here are two denarii of Nerva and Lucius Verus showing Aequitas:

    Rom – Nerva denarius, Aequitas.png
    Nerva, Roman Empire, denarius, 97 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG GERM PM TR P II, laureate head of Nerva right. Rev: IMP II COS IIII PP, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae. 18mm, 2.98g. Ref: RIC II, 40.

    Rom – Lucius Verus, denarius, Aequitas.png
    Lucius Verus, Roman Empire, denarius, 167/168 AD. Rome mint. Obv: L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate head of Lucius Verus right. Rev: TR P VIII IMP V COS III, Aequitas seated left, holding scales and cornucopiae. 18mm, 2.62g. Ref: RIC III, 595. Ex Coast to Coast Coins.
     
  13. Shea19

    Shea19 Well-Known Member

    That’s a nice new addition. Here’s my Antoninus Pius denarius with Aequitas reverse.
    565C939D-541D-4368-AA4A-F187B3538EE4.jpeg
    Antoninus Pius, 138-161 AD
    AR Denarius, Rome Mint
    Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P ; Laureate head right.
    Rev: COS IIII ; Aequitas standing left, holding scales and rod.
    RIC III 127
     
  14. cmezner

    cmezner do ut des Supporter

    a Vespasian's Aequitas As:
    26 mm, 10.51 g; Rome, 74 AD
    Ref.: RIC² Vespasian 722; BMC.702;
    Ob.: IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS V CENS laureate head left
    Rev.: AEQUITAS AVGVST Aequitas, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and long vertical rod (pertica) in left; S C across field
    upload_2019-6-7_23-13-4.png upload_2019-6-7_23-13-17.png
     
  15. cmezner

    cmezner do ut des Supporter

    and one of Titus:
    As, 25 x 26 mm, 10.73 g;
    Rome, 74 AD struck under Vespasian
    Ref.: RIC II, Part 1 (2nd edition) Vespasian 744; Cohen 2;
    Ob.: T CAESAR IMP COS III CENS laureate head of Titus to right
    Rev.: AE-QVITAS AVGVST, Aequitas standing left, holding scales in her right hand and long scepter with her left; S - C across field
    upload_2019-6-7_23-24-43.png upload_2019-6-7_23-24-56.png
     
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  16. jb_depew

    jb_depew Well-Known Member

    Very nice coin. I don't have a Titus with Aequitas (or any coin of Titus sadly), but I did just purchase this as of Vespasian. This one is rare because Aequitas is holding a palm branch, versus a rod. Photo courtesy the seller, Holding History Inc.
    -Jeremy
    [​IMG]
     
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  17. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Wow, some great coins in this thread. Congrats David on acquiring this interesting coin.
     
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