I systematically collect Flavian silver, so it was a great joy for me to find this little beauty on eBay last month. A denomination you don't see everyday! Titus as Caesar AR Quinarius, 1.41g Rome mint, 75(?) AD (Vespasian) Obv: T CAESAR VESPASIAN; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTI; Victory std. l., with wreath and palm RIC 810 (C). BMC 314. RSC 375. BNC 277. Acquired from eBay, December 2019. Vespasian revived the quinarius after a long hiatus going back to the time of Augustus. Striking this denomination was quite in keeping with the antiquarian flavour of the Rome mint during the reign. Vespasian's moneyer's struck a great issue of undated quinarii in 75, possibly in conjunction with the opening of his Temple of Peace. These tiny coins may have been distributed during special occasions. Two standard Victory types (seated or advancing) were employed along with various variant legend spellings and orientations. The variations are: obverse legend - VESPASIANVS or more commonly for Titus Caesar VESPASIAN; reverse legend - AVGVSTI or less commonly AVGVST. The reverse legend can also either be oriented from low r. or high l. Dating this undated issue is a little tricky. The quinarii struck before 75 have AVGVSTI in the reverse legend, while those struck after 75 use the shorter AVGVST. The undated issue employs both forms, therefore it fits neatly to 75. This quinarius struck for Titus Caesar is perhaps the most common variant struck for him in the issue. Because of their small size, quinarii can often look a bit dodgy - off centred, poor style, and worn. This one I think avoids all those pitfalls and has a pretty rainbow tone as well. Feel free to show your tiny silver!
I had a hemidrachm of Caesarea in Cappadocia of Titus in my old collection, probably about 1 gram in weight and tiny. Similar to this coin. (I sold that collection back in the late 80's as I was headed off to college.) Anyway, it was a cool coin.(ex Frank L. Kovacs)
Congrats on your lil' Titus, David! It's really in pretty great condition! Though it's not Roman, here's an interesting lil silver Seleukid denomination one doesn't usually see: Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos), Ruled 121/0-97/6 BC AR Hemidrachm, Antioch mint, Struck 112-111/0 BC Obverse: Diademed head right. Reverse: Nike advancing left, holding wreath; to outer left, monogram above N (or more probably H, making this an unpublished variation). References: SC 2305(var H); HGC 9, 1210 Size: 13mm, 1.46g Rare.
I don't know how an engraver could have worked on something that small without a magnifying lens. Incredible.
My smallest. No idea how they did these Sicily, Syracuse ΣVRA Head of Arethusa right Octopus; 3 Pellets around 0.21g 466-405 BC Second Democracy Very rare denomination AR tetronkion Unlisted?
A 65mm plano-convex glass lens was found in the House of the Engraver at Pompeii. It is now at the National Museum in Naples. Perhaps the use of magnifying lenses was fairly widespread in antiquity. BTW, what's the diameter of your coin?
I'd love to snag one of those elusive early empire quinarii - nicely done! Here's one of the last ones (1.83g, not sure of the diameter):
