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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 3408892, member: 82616&quot;]After an interminable time spent in the USPS netherworld, this beauty finally arrived safely over the weekend. I am relieved and overjoyed to share it here.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]905246[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Titus as Caesar</b></p><p>Æ Sestertius, 25.13g</p><p>Rome mint, 72 AD (Vespasian)</p><p>RIC 431 (R). BMC 636.</p><p>Obv: T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS II; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.</p><p>Rev: S C in exergue; Titus stg. r., with branch and sceptre, in quadriga r.</p><p>Acquired from Wallinmynt, February 2019.</p><p><br /></p><p>In summer 71 AD Vespasian and Titus held a double triumph celebrating their victory for the recently concluded Judaean War. The spectacular triumph was held a few days after Titus&#039; arrival from the East in June and could be viewed as his effective homecoming party. Mary Beard has shrewdly observed that the triumph served as &#039;the Flavian <i>coronation</i>, the official launch party and press night of the Flavian dynasty.&#039; It was the first time after Vespasian&#039;s rise to the purple that the whole family could be seen together by the Roman populace. Vespasian and Titus were identically dressed riding in matching quadrigas while Domitian trotted alongside on a splendid mount. The procession included massive towering floats depicting various &#039;battles&#039; (one wonders how the makeshift naval battle on the Sea of Galilee was rendered?) that were so enormous many onlookers feared they would topple over. Booty from the destroyed Temple (the famous Menorah for one) along with other Eastern flavoured treasures were on display. Much of these treasures were likely manufactured in Rome for the event - a lavish sham in other words. The war ravaged region really didn&#039;t have much to offer in the way of razzmatazz show pieces, even the Temple&#039;s coffers were likely depleted by war&#039;s end. Despite all this, it cannot be underestimated how important this manufactured spectacle was for the young dynasty. The legitimacy and prestige the triumph provided to the family was worth every propaganda penny the regime spent on it, allowing Vespasian to announce to the world that Titus was his chosen heir. By showcasing his eldest son on an equal footing in the procession, it left little doubt who would succeed after his death. Coins were struck in all metals to commemorate the event. Here is a rare sestertius struck for Titus Caesar in 72 showing him in triumphal dress riding in a triumphal quadriga, the type is more commonly seen in silver from Antioch. The same reverse was identically struck for Vespasian, clear numismatic evidence of Vespasian&#039;s intentions for his son. The piece itself serves as a superb memento of the &#039;Greatest Show on Earth&#039; triumph put on by the Flavian regime in the late First century.</p><p><br /></p><p>The fine style portrait on the obverse is quite impressive, unmarred by three punch marks from antiquity. I assume the marks were to test if the coin&#039;s metal was good, although I&#039;ve only encountered them on silver.</p><p><br /></p><p>Interestingly, the depiction of Titus on the coin&#039;s reverse can also be seen today on the Arch of Titus, erected by Domitian.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]905247[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The triumph itself has been of interest to artists down through the ages, most notably by Giulio Romano in 1537. Curiously, Vespasian and Titus share the same quadriga here.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]905250[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>And this etching from the 1645 more appropriately takes its cue from the coin&#039;s reverse and the Arch of Titus.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]905251[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Please feel free to share any triumphal or Titus coins you may have.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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