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Message:: [QUOTE="jamesicus, post: 4580944, member: 14873"]This is an updated version of a previous post of mine from some time ago. I do not pretend to be very knowledgeable regarding this restoration coinage - in fact, I actually know relatively little about it. However, I put together the following information after encountering numerous coins so identified for sale at coin shows and online (and actually adding a few to my collection) and realizing that in most cases neither I, or the seller, really knew much about their meaning or purpose. With that said, here are some background notes I have compiled: Although both Restoration and Restitution are employed by modern day authors to describe this coinage, I employ Restoration here because that is the nomenclature used by Harold Mattingly in his seminal reference: THE "RESTORED" COINS OF OF TITUS, DOMITIAN AND NERVA - The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society Fourth Series, Vol. 20 (1920), pp. 177-207 (31 pages) and on which much of the information presented here is based. Upon assuming the purple, Vespasian adopted a policy of honoring illustrious members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty by issuing several commemorative coin types in their memory. Commemoration of the illustrious dead on coins originated during the later Republic and became an integral part of the legacy of deified Emperors. Titus perpetuated his father's policy of honoring the illustrious dead by issuing commemorative coinage in a like manner. However, he now also began issuing coins that were struck using newly made dies designed to produce coins that closely resembled original coin types of the honorees but in more contemporary style. In British Museum Coins of the Roman Empire (BMCRE)  Vol II @ TITUS: TYPES OF ROME, Mattingly states: "The 'restored' series of Titus served a double purpose; it preserved the memory of famous coins of the early Empire which were becoming obsolete and it emphasized in the public mind the continuity between the Flavian dynasty and its predecessor." It is important to understand how the original coins were restored. For example the first restored AVGUSTUS As depicted here was based on an original As struck at the Rome mint by Tiberius to honor the deified Augustus and depicts a left facing radiate bust of Augustus on the Obverse with the legend DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER. A spread winged Eagle standing on a Globe is depicted on the reverse with large S C left and right. This coin is cataloged in BMCRE (British Museum Coins Roman Empire), H. Mattingly, Vol. I, as Tiberius No. 155 and in RIC (Roman Imperial Coins, Spink), C.H.V. Sutherland, Vol. 1, as Tiberius No. 82. As restored by Titus, the obverse of this coin retains the original coin depiction of Augustus and the legend intact. The reverse retains the original spread winged eagle depiction but the following inscription is added: IMP T CAES AVG RESTITVIT - S C (above, left and right) which roughly equates to "The Emperor Titus is the restorer of this coin". There are variations of these reverse titulature inscriptions throughout the Restoration coin issues. As a general rule, Titus Restoration coins retain the original coin obverse depiction and inscription, although in an updated style, and also the reverse depiction, but change (or add) the restoration reverse inscriptions described here. The above restoration became the general model used by Titus for his coin restorations, again with some variances. Only Aes coins - As, Dupondius and Sestertius - were restored. It was essentially Senatorial coinage yet was issued by Titus. Vespasian alone determined the style and content of his commemorative coinage. Titus, however, sought input from the Senate in the design and content of the restoration coinage. Evidentally it was important to him to have the two main powers of the State jointly honor the illustrious dead in this fashion and co-operation was reinforced by the striking of "Aes" coins bearing the usual Senatorial S C (Senatus Consulto) together with the "Restoration" legend. Of course, the Emperor was the supreme authority, and the Senate was subservient to him, but the traditional Senatorial control of the "Aes" coinage still had some relevance. RESTITVIT is often abbreviated to REST on the reverse of these coins. The Emperor and the Senate, acting together, selected the deceased Augusti and family members they deemed worthy of being honored by the issuance of Restored coinage - a kind of official judgment of their records. Augustus, Tiberius, Claudius, Galba - and selected family members - were included. Caligula, Nero, Otho, Vitellius - and their family members were excluded. The following members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, and Galba, were honored with Restored coins by Titus:l Augustus - sestertius, dupondius, as Agrippa - as Tiberius - sestertius, as Drusus - as Livia - dupondius Nero Drusus - sestertius Germanicus - dupondius Agrippina I - sestertius Claudius - sestertius, dupondius as Galba - sestertius, dupondius, as ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Restoration coinage of Domitian follows that of Titus, but the output was much lighter and appears to be restricted to a short period at the beginning of his reign. The Restoration coinage of Nerva also follows that of Titus, but it only includes two honorees: Divus Augustus and Agrippina senior. * Trajan’s Restoration/Restitution coinage was based on different criteria and he issued it in bronze, silver and gold. He also issued this coinage to honor Distinguished Republican families. Examples of restored coins by Titus I have collected: [ATTACH=full]1136936[/ATTACH]AUGUSTUS AS, TITUS RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD(27mm, 10.71 gm) BMCRE Volume II, Rome, Titus No. 273-275RIC Volume II, Part 1 (second edition), Titus, No. 462 Obverse depiction: Augustus, radiate head facing leftInscription: DIVVS AV _____ GVSTVS PATER Reverse depiction: Eagle with wings spread standing on GlobeInscription: IMP T CAES AVG RESTITVIT - S C (above, left and right) [ATTACH=full]1137191[/ATTACH]AUGUSTUS AS, TITUS RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD(27mm, 10.03 gm) BMCRE Volume II, Rome, Titus No. 271 (variant)RIC Volume II, Part 1 (second edition), Titus, No. 454 Obverse depiction: Augustus, radiate head facing leftInscription: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER Reverse depiction: Altar enclosure with double doorsInscription: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C (left and right) - PROVIDENT (in exergue) [ATTACH=full]1134589[/ATTACH]AGRIPPA AS, TITUS RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD(27mm, 10.00 gm)BMCRE Volume II, Rome, Titus No. 281 (Pl.54.9.) Obverse depiction: Agrippa, radiate head facing left wearing rostral crownInscription: AGRIPPA L F COS III Reverse depiction: Neptune standing left holding small dolphin and tridentInscription: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C (left and right) Photo credit: [USER=41219]@furryfrog02[/USER] - well known member of Coin Talk[ATTACH=full]1136926[/ATTACH]TIBERIUS AS, TITUS RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD(27mm, 11gm)BMCRE Volume II, Rome, Titus No. 284 (Pl.54.11.) Obverse depiction: Tiberius, bare head facing leftInscription: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS IMP VIII Reverse depiction: Large S CInscription: IMP T CAES  DIVI VESP F AVG REST [ATTACH=full]1137192[/ATTACH]CLAUDIUS SESTERTIUS, TITUS RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD(34.5mm, 23.12 gm) BMCRE Volume II, Rome, Titus No. 297 (pl. 56.1)RIC Volume II (1962 Edition), Rome, Titus, No. 234RIC Volume II, Part 1 (second edition), Titus, No. 472 (Sear No. 2601) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing rightInscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flowerin right hand and demurely raising skirt with left handInscription: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C (left and right) I would appreciate postings in reply that contain corrections, additions and general comments relating to this restoration coinage. Thank you,James[/QUOTE]

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