The 'delight and darling of the human race' was born this day in 39 AD. Here's a coin of Titus that for some reason struck my fancy today. Titus AR Denarius Rome Mint, 79 AD, after July 1st RIC 20 (R2), BMC pg. 227 note, RSC 282 Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, l. Rev: TR P VIIII IMP XIIII COS VII P P; Capricorn l.; below, globe The Capricorn was not Titus' birth sign, however, it was Augustus' sign and was featured quite a bit on Flavian denarii in 79. In honour of the JFK of ancient Rome, post your coins of Titus!
My Titus troupe is mostly worn but well enough struck that the legends persist. The best is the Eastern mint bull which is ex Mabbott collection via Stacks back when they were players in the ancient market. Stacks was the last of the big sellers to stop sending me free catalogs when I retired to fixed income and active buying. Thinking back, I wonder how anyone made money on coins sending out all those beautiful free catalogs. The last two are fine examples of what I consider an interesting point. Both are TRP 9 but the elephant is IX rather than VIIII.
A really nice Titus set Doug. The COS V bull denarius is quite rare and an eastern 'o' mint type I lack.
Wonderful coins one and all!!! Happy Birthday Titus---Love that coin 'V' !!! My two examples--- a denarius and a provincial bronze:
If only I had a Titus. Oh, by the way, did you know its not too late to gift something away for tax deductible credit on your 2015 Taxes? . Anyway, Happy Birthday to the Divine Emperor Titus Vespasian.
No silver here Titus Coin: Bronze sestertius IMP T CAES VESP AVG PM TRP PP COS VIII. - Laureate head left FELICIT PVBLIC SC. - Felicitas standing left holding cornucopia and sceptre. Mint: (80-81 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 26.29g / 34mm / - References: RIC 144 Cohen 74 This one is not pretty, but it makes a good jigsaw Titus (Caesar) Coin: Bronze Dupondis T. CAESAR IMP. COS. IIII - Radiate head right. FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C - Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae. Mint: Rome (75 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 10.90g / 26mm / - References: BMC 715A Sear 835 Reference: RIC II (new ed) 830
Titus (79 - 81 A.D.) AR Denarius O: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M•, laureate head right. R: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, facing empty throne of a deity (pulvinar) with a triangular back, back ornamented with uncertain objects and a cross at the peak, seat draped with a fringed cover. Rome Mint, 80 A.D. 3.34g 17.8mm RIC II, part 1, 124; RSC II 313a; BMCRE II 61; BnF III 50; SRCV I 2515
I took these pictures at the Arch of Titus in Rome a few years back. The pudgy student in the solid blue shirt and khaki shorts is me (you can tell I was eating a little too much pizza during my college years). Yeah, not a flattering image looking back at it, but whatever! This is supposed to be an image of the Emperor ascending into heaven on an eagle. This monument was built with the intention that it would one day contain the ashes of the Emperor, so it was part monument/part tomb. And of course, the famous scene of the Roman legions carrying away the loot from the Jewish Temple.
Most of my 12 Caesar collection is silver, with some only in bronze, but I could not resist this aureus. Titus, 73 AD, Rome mint AV aureus (regular series) 7.17 gm - 20mm, 12h Obv: T CAES IMP VESP CENS, laureate head of Titus to right Rev: VES-TA, round temple-shrine of Vesta on the Palatine, with four columns and flight of steps leading up to the central tondo; within, statue of Vesta; flanked by two statues on pedestals. Ref: RIC (Vespasian) 171b, Calicó 795, BMCRE (Vespasian) 120, CBN 98 var., C 348, SR2423
My only coin of Titus. Titus AR denarius, F, toned, 3.249g, 18.7mm, 180o, Rome mint, as Caesar, 77 - 78 A.D.; Obv: T CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG (counterclockwise), laureate head right; Rev: CERES AVGVST, Ceres standing half-left, veiled and draped, two stalks of grain and poppy in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand; RIC II, part 1, Vespasian 974 (R); RSC II 31; BMCRE II Vespasian 321; BnF III Vespasian 282, Hunter I V35, SRCV I 2437, Ex: Forvm Ancient Coins.
Some very beautiful coins in this thread! That left facing bust / Capricorn is not easy to find, not to mention the COS V Bull! Great stuff! Here's my modest contribution along with a fantastic description ripped off from David's example of the type. This forehead looks like it could split a boulder! Titus RIC-131 AR Denarius Rome Mint, 80 AD RIC 131 (R), BMC 82, RSC 323a Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P; Tripod, with fillets streaming out l. and r., on which are ravens r. and l., and in the center, dolphin over wreath: ('exuviae' of Apollo, for 'pulvinar' of Apollo and Diana (?)). VF This denarius was part of a series struck for the lectisternium (religious ceremony) celebrating the opening of the Colosseum in 80 AD. Each god had its own sacred couch, in latin they are known as 'pulvinaria', brought out in pairs, probably in the Forum. The coins in question commemorates the sacred couches which were set out with 'exuviae' (emblems) representing the gods. This example is most likely the 'pulvinar' of Apollo. There are two different types of the Tripod reverse: The common one with just a dolphin above the Tripod, another with a wreath and ravens added. The Reka Devina hoard records 24 specimens of the more common type and only 3 of the raven/wreath variant. Cohen and the RIC do not have seperate listings for the scarce variant, the BMCRE and RSC do record it however.
Wonderful coin Nemo! This type with the ravens is one of my favourite 'pulvinaria' types. I purchased mine from Zach at Beast Coins years ago. Be on the lookout for this type with the left facing portrait. It's extremely rare and I was only able to obtained an example from Harry Sneh the year before he passed away. Harry won it on ebay while in the midst of selling off his extensive Flavian collection. It was one of the few Titus denarii he was unable to find while actively collecting. Before selling the coin to me he held on to it for a few months. He just wanted to savour it and be able to say he finally got a specimen.
That's fantastic David. The only thing better than an extremely rare coin is one with a wonderful story to go along with it! What a special piece. I love these pulvinaria types as well, I have a few more that are waiting to be photographed.
