A Coin Struck Around the Time of the Vesuvian Eruption

I got into Roman history as a kid by excitingly reading about the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius. When I started collecting coins of the Roman Empire it was only natural for me to collect those of the ruling house at the time of that seminal event - the Flavians.

Titus had been emperor for a few short months when the eruption occurred, so his coins struck in those first fledgling months hold a special place in my heart. My latest piece comes from that treasured time period, possibly struck within weeks of the disaster.



Titus
Æ As, 10.89g
Rome mint, 79 AD
Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: S C in field; Spes stg. l., with flower
RIC 73 (R2). BMC p. 238 ‖. BNC -.
Acquired from CGB.fr, December 2021.

Titus' first issues of bronze as Augustus struck in 79, dated COS VII, are all very rare. They were produced sometime during the last six months of the year after his rise to the purple at the end of June, presumably in very modest numbers based on the meagre specimens that have survived antiquity. This As from that scanty issue features the familiar Spes reverse, likely based on a cult image. Spes was a common reverse type under Vespasian, connected to future dynastic hope and harmony. It continued to be struck by Titus and can be viewed as his hope for the future with his chosen heir Domitian. As Mattingly put it: '...the recurring types of Spes suggests that Titus gave Domitian full due as heir to the throne.' Suetonius would have us believe this public fraternal affection was a sham and Domitian did everything he could to plot against Titus. Dio goes so far as to say Domitian hastened Titus death by having him packed in ice! All of this can be dismissed as nothing more than post Domitianic gossip intended to blacken Domitian's name. The Flavian historian Brian Jones speculates the brother's relationship was one of 'mutual indifference and ignorance' due to their age and personality differences. Regardless, as the numismatic evidence shows, Titus looked upon Domitian as his legitimate heir until his natural death in mid September 81.

This particular variant is currently missing from both the Paris and BM collections. Curiously, Mattingly in BMCRE II references Cohen, who in turn cites a specimen in the Paris collection - apparently missing by the time the BNC II catalogue was published in 1998(?).

Feel free to post any coins that are close to your heart.

Thank you for looking!

 

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Wonderful coin, David. Love the patina on it.

 

Interesting historical coin with a great patina!
I was able to spend a day in Pompeii back in 2004 while I was deployed to Naples. I wasn't a coin collector or particularly into Roman history back then but I couldn't help but walk around in awe the entire time. I wish I could go back.

 

@David Atherton - always interesting to see your latest rarity! Titus, Vesuvius, propaganda...

"After he had finished these exhibitions, and had wept so bitterly on the last day that all the people saw him, he performed no other deed of importance; but the next day, in the consulship of Flavius and Pollio, after the dedication of the buildings mentioned, he passed away at the same watering-place that had been the scene of his father's death. The common report is that he was put out of the way by his brother, for Domitian had previously plotted against him; but some writers state that he died a natural death. The tradition is that, while he was still breathing and possibly had a chance of recovery, Domitian, in order to hasten his end, placed him in a chest packed with a quantity of snow, pretending that the disease required, perhaps, that a chill be administered."
-Dio 66.26.1-2

Here's a coin struck by Titus, in honor of his father, Vespasian, within a year of Vespasian's death in June 79, and Vesuvius' eruption in August 79. This coin is undated, but likely struck in AD 80 on the occasion of Vespasian's deification.

Divus Vespasian, died AD 79, AR Denarius, Rome mint. Struck under Titus in AD 80.
Obv: DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS, laureate head right
Rev: E-X across field, round shield inscribed S C, set on low column, surmounted by an urn, flanked by laurel branches
Ref: RIC II 359 (Titus)

 

I'm planning a trip there this coming September ... hopefully 2022 will be better for international travel than 2020 or 2021! Fingers crossed!

 

I would love to travel again!
With 4th baby on the way though, even if there were no pandemic, travel isn't so much an option.

 

That is a very interesting coin. Congrats on adding this piece of history to your collection.

 

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome during the reign of TITUS in 79 A.D. Obv. IMP.TITVS.CAES.VESPASIAN.AVG.P.M.: laur. hd. r. Rev. BONVS.EVENTVS.AVGVSTI.: Bonus Eventus stg. l., holding patera and grain stalks. RSCII #25 pg.54. RICII #31 pg.120. BMC #106. DVM #8. Pleasing F, nice smooth medium gray.

 

What an interesting and historic coin! Pompeii is what started my interest in ancient Rome, too. If I ever go there, I'll need many days of wandering the city to satisfy me, and I'll still leave wanting more. I can't even imagine standing on a street there and taking it all in.

 

That date (August 79) is no longer accepted as being accurate. It is now fairly certain that the eruption occurred in late October 79: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45874858