A Tremendous Unpublished Titus!

It isn't often that new imperial types are discovered, especially in silver. Recently, this unique denarius for Titus as Caesar came up for auction ... I just had to have it!




Titus as Caesar [Vespasian]
AR Denarius, 3.22g
Rome Mint, 77-78 AD
Obv: T CAESAR VESPASIANVS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IMP XIII across field; Modius, standing on three legs, containing five ears of corn upright and two hanging over the sides
RIC -. BMC -. RSC -. BNC -.
CNG eAuction 487, 10 March 2021, lot 515.

A unique and unpublished new type for Titus Caesar. In RIC II.1, page 129, note 186 reads as follows: 'A plated example of this coin with rev IMP XIII (Budapest) suggests the possibility that the parallel issue for Titus might have used this modius reverse type (if such a coin was the prototype for the ancient imitation), though no examples have yet been attested.' Dr. Lucia Carbone, Assistant Curator for Roman Coins, at the American Numismatic Society has confirmed this coin as 'the prototype for the silver-plated fourrée in the Budapest museum.... The T preceding CAESAR on the obverse is absolutely clear and there is no doubt about the identification of the obverse.' The small denarius issue from which this coin was struck consists of three reverse types: goatherd, modius, and sow with piglets. Previously, all three types were known for Vespasian, but only the goatherd and sow had been attested for Titus Caesar. In hand there is the faintest trace of the reading IMP XIII on the reverse. We can now confidently add the modius for Titus to complete our picture of the series - a tremendous discovery!

If you have a unique coin, I'd like to see it.

 

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An absolutely fantastic find. It is rare indeed when a new Flavian denarius type comes to light. I often read through RIC to see where there might be parallel issues yet none are known This way when one appears I know what I am looking at. When reading through the catalogue entires I often think okay there might be a parallel issue here but none are listed, I wonder if one will emerge.

An excellent capture David and it certainly belongs in the collection of a specialist.

As requested, here is a unique coin of Vespasian. It is not a Denarius, but it is the Dattari plate coin.

RPC 2446

 

Wow, that's a fantastic discovery! I'm sure it must be very satisfying to have it in your collection; it certainly deserves to be in it.

I have a few coins that might be unique, though I've already shown them before, so I hope nobody will find it boring if I post them again;


This Volusian is in the same situation as your Titus; at Antioch, Gallus and his son share most reverses, with one of the exceptions being AEQVITAS AVGG, a very rare variant of the common AEQVITAS AVG, which was only known for Gallus. My coin appears to be the only recorded example that belongs, instead, to Volusian.



These two antoniniani of Claudius II are apparently unique in the sense that these busts were previously known for other reverses belonging to the same issues, but not with these ones in particular, making them unrecorded variants but not outright new types.

 

What a catch, absolutely fantastic pick up David.

 

That's an amazing coin! I recall seeing it and thinking that it was low, though I didn't bid myself. I did buy one of the other Titus coins in the same auction though!

 

Great score David ! Let's not forget, a coin is only unique until another one has been discovered . I have one coin I consider to be unique only because I have never seen or heard of another example that is extant, see photo below. Is it possible only one of these coins was struck, hardly . However, until another example of this coin surfaces I'll call this coin unique .

 

We can discuss about this.

 

Super coin, @David Atherton ! CONGRATS on that capture! What a great feeling!

I have a few "Rare" coins, having few known examples. Here are a couple that I like:



Etruria, Populonia
2 ½ asses 3rd century BC, AR 0.85 g. Radiate female head r.; behind, CII. Rev. Blank. EC 104 (misdescribed, Female head with an Attic helmet). Historia Numorum Italy 179.
Of the highest rarity, apparently only the second specimen known.
Dark patina and about very fine
From the collection of E.E. Clain-Stefanelli.



India - Shakya Janapada
AR 5-Shana
6th-5th Century BCE
25mm x 21mm, 7.05g
Obv: Central Pentagonal punch plus several banker's marks
Rev: Blank
Ref: Hirano Type I.8.29
19 known.
Coinage from the Ghaghara Gandak River region
Minted in the Shakya Janaprada during Siddhārtha Gautama's (Later the Buddha) lifetime while he was prince, and under the authority of his father as King



Campania, Neopolis
275-250 BCE
AE 18, 4.99g
Obv: Laureate Head of Apollo, NEOPOLITON (in Greek), Theta at r.
Rev: Achelous advancing r, crowned by flying Nike, IOTA SIGMA under Achelous
Ref: Sambon 663; HN Italy 589; SNG ANS 474; SNG Copenhage - ;

@Nicholas Molinari :
"Your first coin is a plate coin in Potamikon, number 343 in our catalog so Sambon 663; Taliercio IIIa.16; MSP I, 343, featuring Acheloios Sebethos as a man-faced bull. Taliercio cited three examples of this type, so yours is the fourth known of that particular variety."
"According to my notes, ACR E-Auction 28 lot 12."



Every time I see a modius, I have to toss out a conspiracy theory:
YEAH, the ROMANS invented NUCLEAR POWER.
(Just for you, David!!!)

 

Always nice to have an unique coin, and a pretty one as well, congrats!

I have a few unique coins, but this one is a complete new type, even confirmed by Mr. Hoover.
It is a new coin type and new bronze denomination that was struck during Antiochos VIII his relatively short 2nd reign at Antioch.

Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos) (121/0-97/6 B.C.) AE Denomination C. Antiochia on the Orontes mint, 2nd reign at Antioch, 112-111/10 B.C.
Obverse: Diademed and radiate head of Antiochos VIII to right, filleted border.
Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANTIOXOY – [EΠIΦANOYΣ]. Club
Reference: Unpublished and unique
2.30; 11mm

This coin is a previously unknown denomination C of Antiochos VIII with the mint of Antioch and the time of his second reign as the most likely mint and period of issue. Notwithstanding the novelty of the fillet border, Antioch had some tradition of using the club of Herakles for denomination C going back to the reign of Antiochos VII (SC 2068). Antiochus IX had also just used it for his first reign at Antioch (SC 2365) immediately preceding the second reign of Antiochos VIII at the city. Also, the second reign is the only one which no denomination C for Antiochus VIII is known. Well until now!

 

Agreed. It hammered much lower than I anticipated!

 

Nice fourrée.

 

I love this modius which has suffered 'damnatio memoriae' by having Domitian's name scratched off.

 

N

nice! Is this yours?

 

I wish! It was found outside of Chesters Roman Fort in 1915 by a postman.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk...lections/-curators-collections-hadrians-wall/

 

I just wanted to provide a quick update regarding the OP coin. I've been in touch with Ian Carradice, co-author of the new Flavian RIC, and he has assigned it a new catalogue number (RIC 985A under Vespasian) in the upcoming Addenda.

 

..kool coin...i have that type reverse on a much worn Hadrian denarius..

 

Hello David/all: I am a newbie (posted twice asking about collecting a 12 Caesar set). Anyways saw you Titus and it looks very familiar to a coin I dug (metal detecting a couple years ago). I have it labeled as a Vespasian (but never new if I actually had it right as the head seemed different /small and the Reverse was different. Not trying to take over your thread but you must admit this is somewhat similar (although I do not see a T) but admitted coin is not in great shape and was hit by the plow at some point. Is this Vespasian?

 

Can some please delete my duplicates. Sorry but just posting first photos.

 

And David, I first wanted to just say Congrats on your new discovery but,, as I read more and looked closer at you coin I just had to ask about mine ( the one above). And sorry about the duplicate photos (ugh). I will figure this posting business out (if I don't get "banned" first).
Regards,
Beau