I have been gone too long from this Forum and from Ancients coins as well...

I have a couple that probably have an association with the defeat of the Jews, the first and more likely is Titus Victoria Navalis SC, This coin commemorates Vespasians naval victory over the Jews AD 67 on the sea of Galilee. Titus as Caesar under Vespasian, Rome mint struck 72-73 AD, 11.08gm 26mm RIC 664. And this one of Vespasian, Victoria Avgvst, Victory standing on a prow, with wreath in palm, Rome mint 76 AD, 11.25gm, 26-27mm RIC 897 (R).

 

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@Eduard very cool addition!

 

Very nice ancients there friends. I absolutely LOVE ancients but they seem so overwhelming to me. I own a few and have no idea what they are and don't know where to start. I have been a U.S. collector forever and are pretty knowedgeable in many areas. I love looking at all ya's ancients. Thank you all for using your pictures to drive me in that direction.

 

Don't be intimidated, just ask questions! Helping a new collector is fine by me.

 

I'm sure all of us feel the same way!! Post a coin with what you know of it and we'll try to help you anyway we can.

I'm looking forward to see what you have so far @ALAN DAVIS

 

Welcome, @ALAN DAVIS! Most of us started in the same way and obviously we are completely smitten with ancients! It does seem overwhelming at first.

There is no one right or wrong way to collect, so browse the boards, browse auctions, browse Vcoins, and have a blast!

 

Good to see you back posting Eduard, and like someone mentioned above, you were indeed missed.

 

What a fantastic coin! Just enough wear to make it look ancient, but enough detail intact to enjoy the coin's beauty. This sestertius is part of the great bronze issues Vespasian struck soon after his arrival in Rome from Egypt after the Civil War.

Some folks have argued that many of these 'victory' reverses do not specifically refer to the Jewish War and are just general victory types. I think the palm tree is a dead give away with this one that it does refer to Judaea.

 

Am I the only one, or does TIF's coin remind anyone else of the movie "A Nightmare Before Christmas"?

I do have a Judaea Capta denarius of Vespasian, with reverse showing a weeping figure of Judaea, but it is in the safety deposit box and I don't have a picture. However, I have a photo of my (non-Judaea-reference) Vespasian sestertius to share:

 

Thank you very much, my friend.

 

TIF, that is a fantastic example of the tanzendes Männlein! No, I do not believe I had seen your example. It is nicely centered and with full details and a good planchet.

Many are not well struck, struck off-center, or on poor planchets. The Rheinland Celtic quinarii were struck very close to where I live, high atop hill-side settlements or Oppidae as they are called. I feel a special attachment to them. I am glad that they interest you as well.

I have now better pictures of the ones in my collection; here is my best preserved example.

 

Thank you, Vespasian70.
Yes, I have read the argument as well that some consider the VICTORIA AVGVSTI types cannot be conclusively tied to the Jewish Wars, and that they refer instead to Vespasian's victories over Otho. The counterargument being that the Romans did not celebrate victories over their own, and the use of the palm tree clearly indicates a
relation to the wars in Judaea.

 

Here are some of my other coins related to the wars in Judaea. This one the relatively common denarius showing Judaea in attitude of mourning. I do not remember if I have posted this one before, maybe a long time ago.

Vespasian (AD 69-79). AR denarius. Judaea Capta issue. Rome, AD 70.
Ob: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head of Vespasian right
Rev: IVDAEA in exergue, veiled mourning Judaea before military trophy consisting of helmet, cuirass, two shields, mounted on pole, two more shields at base. RIC 2.

 

One of my favorite coins, a Titus As, struck in Lugdunum. It is in fairly low grade but it has a very nice portrait.

I hope I have the attribution right as RIC 1268.


Titus as Caesar. 70-79 AD. As, Lugdunum, 77-8 AD.
Obv: T CAES IMP AVG F TR P COS VI CENSOR Head laureate right, globe below point of bust.
Rev: IVDAEA - CAPTA around, S C in exergue, Mourning Judaea seated right on shield at base of palm tree, to left of tree arms, namely cuirass, two shields, two helmets, and spear. RIC 1268?

 

Very nice coins, Ancient Aussie, and thank you for posting them.
The Vespasian Victoria Avgvst seems to be quite a scarce issue. It has a very nice patina.

As you say, even if most of the campaign in Judaea was fought on land, the Titus Victoria Navalis is probably related to the Wars in Judaea, Specifically naval action on the Sea of Galilee. I guess we will never know for sure, but this does seems plausible.

I have an example of the Titus Victoria Navalis As in my collection as well.
I bought this coin many years ago when the Berlin wall came down. I remember that event seemed to unleash a flood of coins into the market in the west.
I wish I had had more funds back then! There were some incredible coins.

I have not attributed this coin properly yet. This is as far as I have it now and is tentative.

Any help is appreciated!

Titus. As Caesar, AD 69-79. Æ As. Rome mint. Struck under Vespasian, AD 72?
Obv: T CAESAR VESPASIAN IMP PONT TRP(O...???) Laureate head right.
Rev: VICTORIA NAVALIS, Victory standing right on prow of galley, holding palm frond and wreath.

 

Now, that is a superb example of this common type. The personification of Judaea looks as if she is thoughtfully gazing at the heavens.

 

I'm a newcomer too, Alan! I came into the forum with a lot of crazy ideas about ancients. The wonderful guys in this forum are doing a great job of reeducating me. They are gently trying to break me of my bad habits such as slabbing every coin I can get my hands on! LOL!

 

Fascinating design!