A Scarce Cistophorus of Titus

Slowly but surely I'm crossing coins off my Bucket List. This Titus cistophorus is the most recent one. These do not show up frequently in trade, so needless to say I had a long wait.


Titus
AR Cistophorus, 10.55g
Rome mint (for Asia), 80-81 AD
RIC 516 (R), BMC 149, RSC 398 , RPC 861 (4 spec.)
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: Aquila between two standards, one surmounted by a banner, the other by a hand
Ex CNG E400, 28 June 2017, lot 609.

A small issue of Asian cistophori were struck under Titus in 80 or 81 AD. Style and the six o'clock die axis point to Rome as the likely mint. Two types were coined for Titus - Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus and Aquila between two standards. These are the only coins of Titus that are identifiable as being struck after the fire of 80 since one of the types commemorates the restoration of the Capitoline Temple. The issue continued into Domitian's reign with the same two reverse types. The fact that Titus' cistophori are much rarer than those of Domitian may indicate they were struck near the end of Titus' reign in 81 rather than 80. The aquila between two standards copies similar reverses from Nero's denarii and the bronze of Galba. The portraits on Titus' cistophori are in the same style as his pulvinaria denarii.

The golden rainbow toning is icing on the cake.

 

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what a pretty coin!

 

Congratulations on knocking another one off the list. It's a beautiful coin too. I bet it's quite something in hand. What is it about 25 mm or so in diameter?

 

Gorgeous!

 

That toning is really nice. Love your new addition.

 

Fantastic!

 

A lovely coin David. Congrats on a great pickup.

Here is the Nero.

 

Fantastic coin David, love that toning ..Great coin also Orfew with terrific Nero features, I am writing this from my hotel room West London...... Coining never stops.

 

Happy to hear that you were able to check off such a long sought after type and especially one with such excellent eye appeal.

 

A real beauty

 

Yes, and this serves well to point out a problem with our online images. Lacking a size reference, this photo really looks like a denarius. While that would be fine, those not familiar with the material might miss that this is three times as large as a denarius and quite impressive in hand in comparison. Most larger silvers are distinguished by a different style or by Greek legends. This is 'some coin'.

 

WOW!!

What a fantastic coin David!! I absolutely LOVE everything about it!!!

I honestly can't recall the last time I saw a Cistophorus of Titus offered for sale.

@Orfew's verion of Nero is quite lovely too!! The closest I have come is a few unsuccessful bids on those of Augustus

 

26mm, a nice chunk of silver in hand!

 

Thanks for posting that wonderful example for comparison.

 

The coin has the same silver fineness (around 80%) of the contemporaneous denarii struck at Rome. It really does remind one of a very large denarius in hand!

 

Yes, there aren't many that show up in trade. I do have another Titus cistophorus which was purchased in 2015. It makes a nice companion piece with my latest one.


Titus
AR Cistophorus, 10.64g
Rome mint (for Asia), 80-81 AD
RIC 515 (R), BMC spec. acquired 1948, RSC - , RPC 860 (3 spec.)
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
Acquired from Calgary Coin, 30 November 2015. Ex MS collection. Ex Berk 124, 3 January 2002, lot 448.

 

Great coin, David. Congrats.

 

Great coin @David Atherton ! Excellent find

 

I have the matching Domitian to your Titus



IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG P M COS VIII
laureate head of Domitian to right

CA PIT across field, RESTIT in exergue
tetrastyle temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus Capitolinus, containing statues of the Capitoline Triad, Jupiter seated left between standing figures of Juno and Minerva

Rome for circulation in the East
A.D. 82

Rare
10.83g

S.2715, BMC 251, RSC 23, RPC 864

 

Nice example of the type, much better than my own. Interestingly, RPC II floats A. M. Woodward's idea that Domitian's Capitoline Temple cistophori are actually mules caused by the accidental survival of a die of Titus after his death. Woodward believed the celebration of the temple's restoration would not have taken place before it's completion. However, this theory does not explain why Domitian's hybrid Captioline Temple cistophori were struck in greater numbers than those of Titus.