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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 4502356, member: 82616&quot;]The bronze coinage issue of Titus struck in 80-81 has a somewhat puzzling feature: Many of the left facing portraits are in a much finer style than those facing right, perhaps the handiwork of one talented engraver who preferred lefties. I purchased my latest coin not so much because I was missing an example (I was) but because I really do love these left portraits!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1116551[/ATTACH]<b>Titus</b></p><p>Æ Sestertius, 23.63g</p><p>Rome mint, 80-81 AD</p><p>Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, l.</p><p>Rev: S C in field; Spes stg. l., with flower</p><p>RIC 170 (C2). BMC 183. BNC 174.</p><p>Acquired from Ampex, eBay, May 2020.</p><p><br /></p><p>Spes was a common reverse type under Vespasian, connected to future dynastic hope and harmony. It continued to be struck by Titus and can be viewed as his hope for the future with his chosen heir Domitian. As Mattingly put it: &#039;...the recurring types of Spes suggests that Titus gave Domitian full due as heir to the throne.&#039; Suetonious would have us believe this public fraternal affection was a sham and Domitian did everything he could to plot against Titus. Dio goes so far as to say Domitian hastened Titus death by having him packed in ice! All of this can be dismissed as nothing more than post Domitianic gossip intended to blacken Domitian&#039;s name. The Flavian historian Brian Jones speculates the brother&#039;s relationship was one of &#039;mutual indifference and ignorance&#039; due to their age and personality differences. Regardless, as the numismatic evidence shows, Titus looked upon Domitian as his legitimate heir until his natural death in mid September 81.</p><p><br /></p><p>Unlike with Titus&#039; denarii, left portraits in bronze are quite common.</p><p><br /></p><p>And the perfect song for this thread by one of my favourite bands.</p><p><br /></p><p>[MEDIA=youtube]htOQiHgvkfg[/MEDIA]</p><p><br /></p><p>Post your lefties![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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