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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 4744773, member: 82616&quot;]A few of weeks ago I purchased a rare dupondius struck for Titus as Caesar with a left facing portrait. <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an-eastern-titus-caesar.363435/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an-eastern-titus-caesar.363435/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an-eastern-titus-caesar.363435/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Recently, I was able to acquired the slightly more common corresponding right facing portrait of the same type. Now I have a matching pair!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1159499[/ATTACH]<b>Titus as Caesar [Vespasian]</b></p><p>Æ Dupondius, 10.82g</p><p>Rome mint, 74 AD</p><p>Obv: T•CAESAR•IMP•PONT; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.</p><p>Rev: TR•POT•COS III•CENSOR•; Winged caduceus between crossed cornuacopiae</p><p>RIC 761 (C). BMC 891. BNC 907. RPC 1991 (2 spec.).</p><p>Ex LNE, eBay, 5 August 2020. Formerly in NGC holder 5769771-013, grade &#039;F&#039;.</p><p><br /></p><p>A truly remarkable Titus Caesar dupondius struck in Rome under Vespasian, but lacking the traditional radiate portrait on the obverse and the <i>de rigueur</i> S C on the reverse. The reverse with crossed cornucopiae echoes similar types from the East. Traditionally, the issue this rather strange coin is from has been attributed to various different mints over the years. However, hoard and findspot data indicates these coins circulated in the Western empire and not in the East. Ted Buttrey in the RIC II.1 A&amp;C wrote - &#039;RIC 756-767 are irregular Dupondii, which should be taken together with Asses, semisses and quadrantes (RIC 1564-1581), forming together a single extraordinary issue in four denominations, distinct in typology and metal, as well as overall character from the regular coinage of the year. Although Eastern in aspect and reverse type, the circulation area of the dupondii is almost exclusively Gaul, Germany, Italy – i.e. the West, with scarcely any penetration of the East. Finds of the smaller denominations are rarely attested anywhere, East or West. The Eastern finds appear to be simply the débris of Mediterranean circulation.&#039;</p><p><br /></p><p>Why was an Eastern flavoured coinage struck for circulation in the West? Perhaps it may be nothing more than Vespasian paying homage to that part of the world that elevated him. This example is the slightly more common right facing portrait, although only 2 specimens are cited from the &#039;core collections&#039; in RPC.</p><p><br /></p><p>This right facing example seems to be engraved in a more pleasing style than the left facing one I shared several weeks ago. Perhaps a more talented engraver produced the right facing dies for this issue?</p><p><br /></p><p>The coin came entombed. It is so no longer.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1159504[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The NGC label correctly assigns the coin to Rome but still notes the erroneous traditional &#039;for circulation in Syria&#039; attribution.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Feel free to post your matching pairs![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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