At first glance my latest coin doesn't appear to be anything special, but there is more to it than meets the eye. First impressions can be deceiving. Titus Æ As, 10.39g Rome mint, 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: GENIO P R; S C in field; Genius stg. l., with patera over altar and cornucopiae RIC 227 (R2). BMC -. BNC -. Acquired from Romae Aeternae Numismatics, May 2020. This As featuring the Genius reverse is a rare right facing portrait variant of the type, most of these are seen with left facing portraits. GENIO P R - 'The spirit of the Roman people' is not a common motif in Flavian coinage, although ten years previously it was a popular type during the Civil War. H. Mattingly connects the type under Titus with 'the vows undertaken for the first five years of the new reign'. The coin is dated COS VIII which Titus held in 80 (he did not renew the consulship in 81). Missing from the extensive BM and Paris collections. Perhaps this is a coin only a specialist could love - everyone else will wonder what all the fuss is about. Feel free to show your assuming rarities.
Here's a Hadrian Rarity 2. Hadrian (Augustus) Coin: Brass Sestertius IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG - Laureate draped bust right PONT MAX TR POT COS III S-C - Hadrian seated left on platform, extending hand to woman before him with child in arms and another to left, LIBERTAS RESTITVTA in ex. Exergue: LIBERTAS RESTITVTA Mint: Rome (119-122 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 24.12g / 33mm / 12h Rarity: R2 References: RIC II 568 Cohen 949 BMC 1160 Banti 515 Provenances: Savoca Coins Acquisition/Sale: Savoca Coins Internet 34th Silver Auction #406 $0.00 06/19 Notes: Jun 16, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
