In Memory of the 'Delight and Darling of the Human Race'

On this date in 81 AD the emperor Titus died of 'natural' causes at the age of 41. His dying last words were 'I have made but one mistake'. Post Domitianic propaganda rumoured it referred to Domitian's status as heir to the throne.

Titus's posthumous reputation was immensely positive. Suetonius went so far as to call him 'the delight and darling of the human race.' The Roman JFK.

One of my favourite coins struck for Titus is this grand cistophorus.

Titus
AR Cistophorus, 10.64g
Rome mint (for Asia), 80-81 AD
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M•; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: CAPIT across field, RESTIT in exergue; Temple of Capitoline Jupiter with 4 columns enclosing figures of Juno, seated Jupiter and Minverva
RIC 515 (R). BMC spec. acquired 1948. RSC -. RPC 860 (3 spec.). BNC 111.
Acquired from Calgary Coin, 30 November 2015. Ex MS collection. Ex Berk 124, 3 January 2002, lot 448.

In 80 AD while Titus was away in Campania surveying the damage Vesuvius had caused in the region the previous autumn, a devastating fire broke out in Rome, damaging much of the city centre. One of the most important buildings affected by the fire was the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter, rebuilt recently by Vespasian. The temple being the most sacred and important building in Rome, Titus began rebuilding it immediately. Construction was still ongoing when Titus died of natural causes in September of 81. A cistophorus commemorating the rebuilding of the structure was struck for Domitian but it was not until 1948 with the discovery of this reverse type for Titus (when the BM acquired a specimen) was the type known to be minted for Titus. Needless to say it is extremely rare. Since 1948 seven other examples have surfaced, four of which are in public collections. A.M. Woodward speculates the type for Domitian is actually a hybrid struck from carry-over dies intended for Titus. This cistophorus was minted in Rome for export to Asia Minor. The style and die axis are similar to the denarii from Rome during the same period, firmly placing it to that mint. This coin is an obverse die match with Gemini IX, lot 458.

Share your coins of Titus!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

This coin kills me every time I see it. Just a stupendous architectural reverse!

I'll share this ex x6 provincial...


TITUS
AE25. 13.3g, 24.5mm. PHOENICIA, Berytus, circa AD 79-81. Cf. Sawaya 511 (D87/R? [uncertain rev. die]); RPC II 2045. O: IMP T CAESAR AVG F, bare head left. R: COL IVL AVG, Founder plowing right with ox and cow.
Ex stevex6 Collection, CNG E-sale 309 (21 Aug 2013) lot 175; ex Harry N. Sneh Collection; ex Garth R. Drewry Collection, CNG E-sale 126 (9 Dec 2005) lot 261

 

Nice provenance!

 

What a lovely and historically important coin, @David Atherton !

O Titus, bring your friend hither!


Titus as Caesar, AD 69-79.
Roman AR Denarius, 3.27 g, 18.5 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 76.
Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN, laureate head right.
Rev: COS V, Eagle standing front on garlanded altar, thunderbolt in claws, wings open, head left.
Refs: RIC.191a; RIC2.861; BMCRE 191; CBN 166; RSC.59a; RCV 2438.

 

RIP Titus !


TITUS Denarius RIC 26a- Rome mint, AD 80
IMP TITUS CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM, Laureate bust of Titus right
TRP IX IMP XV COS VIII PP, Dolphin entwined around anchor
3.56 gr
Ref : RIC # 26a, RCV # 2517, Cohen # 309

Q

 

..here's an old pic of an old coin for the flavian fanatic...(if i were getting paid to post pics i would quit and seek more gainful employment)

 

Very nice catch, @David Atherton ! And, thank you for the info. What a bummer of all the calamities that came at once... such a short tenure as Emperor, and so many issues he had to face. Then a greedy runt kills him off...

TITUS


RI Titus 79-81 CE AR Denarius Ceres seated corn ear poppy torch

 

Three awesome Titus sestertii that are *NOT* my coins.

 

That's a most desirable cistophorus – the architectural reverse is stunning.

Here is my favorite coin of Titus (one of two in my collection , so that's not a big statement):

Titus (as Caesar under Vespasian), Roman Empire, denarius, 76 AD, Rome mint. Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN, laureate head right. Rev: IOVIS CVSTOS, Jupiter standing left, holding patera and sceptre; altar at left. 19mm, 3.2g. Ref: RIC II Vespasian 863.

 

"Of course, he lived only for a very short time (at least for a ruler) and so had very little opportunity to make mistakes..." (Dio, 66.18.3).

And the poor daughter here left behind:

 

No Titus coins for me but this fountain I saw at the Biltmore in Asheville reminded me of the dolphin back of the Titus coin.

 

Titus, as Caesar; 69-79 AD. AR denarius (21x18mm; 3.32gm; 6h). Obv: His laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. Rev: No legend. Titus Standing r. and captive Judaea seated on the ground, r., at the base of a palm tree. The coin was struck by some round, ball-shaped object, probably metal, at the base of the palm tree, in ancient times, which flattened the palm trunk and Titus' left leg. The impact carried through to flatten slightly Titus' head above the ear. Sear 2434, Antioch mint; BMC (Vespasian) 367.

 

And:

Titus, as Caesar; 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius (31mm; 24.32gm; 6h). "JUDAEA CAPTA" issue. Rome mint. Struck 72 AD. Obv: Laureate head right. Rev: Titus standing in triumphal quadriga right, holding scepter and branch. The chariot is ornamented with Nike standing r. holding wreath in outstretched arm. “S•C” in ex. RIC II, 611 (Vespasian); Hendin 790, fourth edition, except differing obverse legend.

 

Excellent coin and a great thread. Here is my Titus Cistophorus.

RIC 516