David Hendin once said that Judaea Capta types as a group are not all that rare, but individually they can be quite scarce. I think that is true with my latest purchase. Titus as Caesar [Vespasian] Æ Sestertius, 24.15g Rome mint, 72 AD Obv: T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS II; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: IVDAEA CAPTA; S C in exergue; Palm tree; to l., Titus stg. r. with spear and parazonium, foot on helmet; to r., Judaea std. r. RIC 422 (R). BMC 631. BNC 618. Hendin 1523. Acquired from Marti Classical Numismatics, October 2020. Vespasian and Titus Caesar held a joint triumph in 71 for their Jewish War victory, but it wasn't until the following year that Judaea Capta coins were struck for Titus commemorating his own military achievement during the siege of Jerusalem. The reverse of this rare sestertius first struck for Titus in 72 directly copies one famously coined for Vespasian the previous year. This iconic type features a triumphal Titus proudly standing, holding a spear and parazonium (a triangular sword) with his foot on an enemy helmet, while the personification of Judaea sits at the base of a palm tree (representing the land of Judaea) in abject despair - take note of their size discrepancy. This 'budget' example was fairly affordable. If I wish to hold out for another without the conditional issues I will certainly pay 3 to 4x more. All in an all I'm quite pleased. Feel free to post your 'budget' rarities. **Special thanks to @Jay GT4 for photographic assistance.**
Wow, nice bronze, @David Atherton . Always cool to find hard-to-find rares or scarces! I do not have a CAPTA, but your header got me to thinking of OTHER conquerors of Jerusalem... PUBLIUS QUINCTILIUS VARUS AE OF ANTIOCHEIA, SYRIA RPC 4252, SNG Cop. 92, 20.4mm, 8.03 grams, Dated year 27 = 5/4 B.C.E. Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus to right Reverse: Tyche of Antioch seated to right, holding palm branch; below, river-god Orontes swimming right, in right field, date ZK (year 27 = 5/4 B.C.E.) This rare coin was struck during Varus' assignment as Governor of Syria from 7 - 4 B.C.E. Varus guarded the borders from Parthia and violently quelled unrest in Judaea and Samaria. Josephus records an incident wherein after the death of Herod., Varus occupied Jerusalem and crucified 2,000 Jews. Later Varus was transfered to the Northern front, where he met disaster fighting the Germanic tribes in the Teutoburg forest. Three legions under his command, legions XVII, XVIII and XIX were completely annihilated. This caused emperor Augustus great grief and he was said to have cried out on occasion "Quintili Vare, legiones redde!" or "Quinctilius Varus, give me back my legions!" SALADIN AYYUBID Caliphate - Saladin al-Nasir Salah al Din Yusuf AH564-589 1169-1193 CE AR Dirham R
Wow, that's neat. I did not know of Varus' history prior to the Teutoberg forest debacle. Sounds a bit like "what comes around goes around", eh? Neat Saladin. I want one. Of course then I'd also have to get a Richard the Lionheart coin, wouldn't I?
Richard I of England issued no coins for England as he spent little time there, mainly raising money for his crusading. He did issue coins for Poitou (Poitiers) in France where he was the Count of Poitou. Richard I, Count of Poitou, 1172-1185, Silver Denier Obverse: RICARDVS REX (King Richard), cross within inner dot border Reverse: PIC/TAVIE/NSIS (Poitou) in three lines across field Silver, 19 mm, 1.14 gm
Portrait of Titus, struck roughly one year after coming home from Jerusalem. Titus as Caesar Ae Sestertius 72-73 AD Obv Head right laureate. Rv. Mars advancing right holding spear at the ready and trophy over shoulder. RIC Vespasian 500 26.92 grms 31 mm
