I was really thrilled to have recently acquired one of these rare orichalcum(!) quadrans struck under Titus at an unknown mint in the East. Titus Æ Quadrans, 3.29g Eastern Mint (Thrace?), 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T CAES DIVI VES F AVG; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: IVLIA AVGVSTA; Julia std. l., with patera and sceptre RIC 506 (R2). BMC -. BNC -. RPC p. 137. Acquired from Praefectus Coins, July 2021. An unidentified Eastern mint struck coins for Titus sometime between 80-81. The style, fabric, and unique obverse legends (DIVI VES F in this case) all suggest a mint other than Rome. Attributing exactly where these coins were struck has historically been a moving target - Mattingly in BMCRE thought Lugdunum, H.A. Cahn believed somewhere in Bithynia. More recent scholarship has looked towards Thrace as a possible location for production based on the Balkan distribution pattern of found specimens. Although the region of mintage has been narrowed down, the city itself remains elusive. RPC has suggested possibly Perinthus. Presumably a shortage of bronze coins in the region during Titus' reign prompted a localised imperial issue. This extremely rare orichalcum quadrans featuring Titus's teenage daughter Julia Titi on the reverse is unique to this mint. It is also the only time both father and daughter appeared jointly on an imperial coin. Julia was granted the title Augusta sometime in 80 or 81 which may have prompted her presence on the coinage. Missing from both the BM and Paris collections and only referenced in RPC (p. 137) as possibly from Rome with no specimen in the plates. Attractive dark patina with golden highlights. Post your Augusta coins!
Wow! That's really fascinating, @David Atherton! I had no idea this coin even existed! I like quadrantes. I like empresses. And now I want an example of this coin, too! I only have one coin of Julia Titi, a denarius. Julia Titi, AD 79-90/91. Roman AR denarius, 3.2 g, 20.0 mm. Rome, AD 79-81. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA TITI AVGVSTI F, diademed and draped bust, r. Rev: VENVS AVGVST, Venus, naked to waist, standing r., holding helmet and scepter, resting l. elbow on column. Refs: RIC-56; BMCRE-141; Sear-2612.
An AVGVSTA RI Orbiana wife Severus Alexander Augusta 225-227 CE Æ AS 23 mm 8.75g Rome mint Concordia patera double cornucopiae RIC 656
Wow ! What a find ! I can't but post (again) my Julia Titi Julia Titi, Denarius - Rome mint, c. AD 79-81 IVLIA AVGVSTA T AVG F, Bust of Julia right VENVS AVG, Venus leaning on a column, holding helmet and sceptre 3.03 gr Ref : Cohen #12, RCV #2611 Q
That's wonderful! I have one coin depicting Julia Titi, as Augusta. I like the color, and have always thought she looks better with her hair up in back than with her hair down! Julia Titi Flavia (daughter of Titus), AE Dupondius 80-81 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right with hair bundled high in front and coiled in chignon high in back, IVLIA IMP T AVG F AVGVSTA/ Rev. Vesta seated left, holding palladium in right hand and long transverse scepter in left arm, VESTA below, S C across fields. RIC II-1 398 at. p. 223 (Titus) (2007 ed.), old RIC II 180 (Titus) (1926 ed.), Sear RCV I 2617 (ill.), BMCRE Titus 257. 26 mm., 12.23 g., 6 h.
Wonderful OP coin David! A type I've never seen before and a cool style. Holy That has got to be the most cherry Titi I've seen and with some SERIOUS cushion! Here are my humble examples:
I wonder if Venus's face was intended to resemble Julia Titi's as depicted on the obverse. It's not what I 'd call a classically beautiful face like one might expect to see on Venus. Although I am duly impressed with her bottom.
Nice coin David. Incredibly we both got the same coin type delivered on the exact same day! What are the chances of that considering how rare they are and that we're in 2 different countries? IMP T CAES DIVI VES F AVG Laureate head right IVLIA AVGVSTA Julia seateded left with patera and sceptre Eastern mint (Thrace?) 80-81 CE, after the deification of Vespasian 4.05g RIC 506 (R2) Ex-Zeus Web Auction 18 lot 355 Mattingly thought the mint for these coins with Latin legends was Lugdunum, but now it is believed to be in the Eastern Provinces, probably Thrace.
If I was superstitious I'd say it was fate, however, I'm only stitious so I'll call it a neat coincidence. Nice example.
