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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 4860217, member: 82616&quot;]On this date in 81 AD the emperor Titus died of &#039;natural&#039; causes at the age of 41. His dying last words were &#039;I have made but one mistake&#039;. Post Domitianic propaganda rumoured it referred to Domitian&#039;s status as heir to the throne.</p><p><br /></p><p>Titus&#039;s posthumous reputation was immensely positive. Suetonius went so far as to call him &#039;the delight and darling of the human race.&#039; The Roman JFK.</p><p><br /></p><p>One of my favourite coins struck for Titus is this grand cistophorus.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1173716[/ATTACH]<b>Titus</b></p><p>AR Cistophorus, 10.64g</p><p>Rome mint (for Asia), 80-81 AD</p><p>Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M•; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.</p><p>Rev: CAPIT across field, RESTIT in exergue; Temple of Capitoline Jupiter with 4 columns enclosing figures of Juno, seated Jupiter and Minverva</p><p>RIC 515 (R). BMC spec. acquired 1948. RSC -. RPC 860 (3 spec.). BNC 111.</p><p>Acquired from Calgary Coin, 30 November 2015. Ex MS collection. Ex Berk 124, 3 January 2002, lot 448.</p><p><br /></p><p>In 80 AD while Titus was away in Campania surveying the damage Vesuvius had caused in the region the previous autumn, a devastating fire broke out in Rome, damaging much of the city centre. One of the most important buildings affected by the fire was the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter, rebuilt recently by Vespasian. The temple being the most sacred and important building in Rome, Titus began rebuilding it immediately. Construction was still ongoing when Titus died of natural causes in September of 81. A cistophorus commemorating the rebuilding of the structure was struck for Domitian but it was not until 1948 with the discovery of this reverse type for Titus (when the BM acquired a specimen) was the type known to be minted for Titus. Needless to say it is extremely rare. Since 1948 seven other examples have surfaced, four of which are in public collections. A.M. Woodward speculates the type for Domitian is actually a hybrid struck from carry-over dies intended for Titus. This cistophorus was minted in Rome for export to Asia Minor. The style and die axis are similar to the denarii from Rome during the same period, firmly placing it to that mint. This coin is an obverse die match with Gemini IX, lot 458.</p><p><br /></p><p>Share your coins of Titus![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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