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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 2289421, member: 82616&quot;]Over the weekend I was thrilled to receive this very rare Titus cistophorus.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]458831[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Titus</b></p><p>AR Cistophorus (3 denarii)</p><p>Rome mint (for Asia), 80-81 AD</p><p>RIC 515 (R), BMC spec. acquired 1948, RSC - , RPC 860 (4 spec.)</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>26mm, 10.64g.</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 Fall, a devastating fire broke out in Rome, damaging much of the city center. One of the most important buildings affected by the fire was the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter, rebuilt recently by Vespasian. It 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. 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>Here are the other seven examples I&#039;m aware of: ANS, BM, Bern Museum, Paris, Gemini IX lot 458, CNG lot 1298, Lanz 94 lot 339.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is a reconstruction of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]458832[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Curiously, although the building featured six front columns, only four are depicted on my coin. Statues of the deities Juno, Jupiter (seated) and Minverva can be seen between the columns on the coin but not in this artist&#039;s rendition of the structure.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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