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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 2747425, member: 82616&quot;]The Rome mint struck an eagle with base type for both Vespasian and Titus Caesar. The type comes in two variants, one with the eagle clutching a thunderbolt (while standing on the base - what talent!) and another lacking a thunderbolt. RIC just describes the type as &#039;eagle clutching thunderbolt&#039; with no mention of the other variant without thunderbolt. I know I&#039;ve brought the issue up here on CT before, but my latest purchase moved me to finally contact Ted Buttrey, co-Author of RIC II.1, about the thunderboltless variants. He agreed that they are different enough to deserve their own catalogue numbers. It&#039;s only right considering different RIC numbers were assigned just based on which way the eagle&#039;s head is facing!</p><p><br /></p><p>My new coin is actually a Titus Caesar eagle and base with a thunderbolt.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]628447[/ATTACH]<b>Titus Caesar</b></p><p>AR Denarius, 3.33g</p><p>Rome mint, 76 AD</p><p>RIC V861 (C), BMC V191, RSC 59</p><p>Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.</p><p>Rev: COS V across field; Eagle stg. front on garlanded altar, thunderbolt in claws, wings open, head l.</p><p>Acquired from Sphinx Numismatics, May 2017.</p><p><br /></p><p>My other example I&#039;ve had for eight years is a non-thunderbolt variant, newly assigned RIC 861A.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]628448[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Titus Caesar</b></p><p>AR Denarius, 3.43g</p><p>Rome mint, 76 AD</p><p>RIC V861A (C), BMC V191, RSC 59</p><p>Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.</p><p>Rev: COS V across field; Eagle stg. front on garlanded altar, wings open, head l.</p><p>Acquired from Roma Numismatics, November 2009.</p><p><br /></p><p>It&#039;s highly possible every variant of the type struck for both Vespasian and Titus Caesar have corresponding non-thunderbolt examples.</p><p><br /></p><p>I would really like to know if these two variants are intentional and represent different attributes of the type or just the whim of individual engravers. Sadly, I doubt we shall ever know.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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