Sorry, it's not the Hollywood blockbuster and there is no iconic beach scene. Instead, I wish to present a decently rare Titus As that just may well have more meaning behind it than meets the eye. Titus Æ As, 9.10g Rome mint, 80-81 AD RIC 220 (R). BMC p. 266 note. Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, l. Rev: AETERNIT AVGVST; S C in field; Aeternitas stg. r., l. foot on globe, with sceptre and cornucopiae Acquired from eBay, June 2019. Aeternitas, the personification of eternity, as a coin type was first introduced during the reign of Vespasian and would be periodically struck until the 4th century. This As featuring Aeternitas was struck during Titus' second and largest bronze issue in 80-81. Mattingly in BMCRE II speculates the type here refers to the consecration of Vespasian - 'Aeternitas holds sceptre and cornucopiae, the attributes of majesty and prosperity, while the globe under her foot shows that the application is world-wide. Stress is laid more on the great future than on the great past of the Flavian line.' A most fitting interpretation for a coin that declares 'The eternity of the Augustus'. Please post your 'eternal' coins!
Septimius Severus (below) used the Aeternitas legend with moon/stars. My coin is the worst I have seen. The other one (die duplicate) was nearly perfect but priced way over my head. Sometimes I still regret that decision.
HADRIAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate head right, draped left shoulder REVERSE: P M TR P COS III, Aeternitas standing front, her head turned left and holding the heads of the sun and moon in hands Struck at Rome, 119-122 AD 3.46g. 17mm RIC 114 HADRIAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate head right, draped left shoulder REVERSE: P M TR P COS III, Aeternitas standing front, head left, holding the heads of the sun and moon Struck at Rome, 119-121AD 3.0g, 18mm RIC 115, C 131 FAUSTINA Sr AE Sestertius OBVERSE: DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right REVERSE: AETERNITAS S-C, Aeternitas seated left holding phoenix & scepter Struck at Rome, 147 AD 24.53g, 34 mm RIC 1103A
Bing's Faustina I sestertius shows AETERNITAS seated. Here's a couple of Faustina and her daughter with AETERNITAS standing:
I have a 4th Century example of the Aeternitas legend...interesting reverse on this one. Maxentius, Follis (Silvered bronze, 25 mm, 7.36 g), Ostia, 308- 312. IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG Laureate head of Maxentius to right. Rev. AETERNITAS AVG N / MOSTA, The Dioscuri standing facing, heads turned toward each other, each holding bridle of horse in right hand and scepter in left; between them, she-wolf standing left, head to right, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus. RIC 16. Partially silvered.
