The Restoration/Restitution coinage of Titus Background notes (13 March 2021): 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 the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. Restored coin obverses were usually very close replications of the original coins, but the reverse depictions were sometimes modified slightly to accommodate the peripheral inscription that was changed to: IMP T CAES AVG RESTITVIT - which roughly equates to "The Emperor Titus is the restorer of this coin". RESTITVIT is often abbreviated to REST on the reverse of the restored coinage. The above restoration became the general model used by Titus for his coin restorations, again with some variances. The Emperor and the Senate, evidently 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. Only Aes coins - As, Dupondius and Sestertius - were restored by Titus. The following members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty were so honored: 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 Additional Restoration/Restitution coinage of this period information: 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. Click on the following link for information relating to a CNG listing for a Trajan Restoration/Restitution of a Julius Caesar aureus: Note especially the Curtis Clay and Harold Mattingly contributions. Examples of restoration coins issued by Titus: AUGUSTUS AS, TITUS RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD (27mm, 10.71 gm) BMCRE Volume II, Rome, Titus No. 273-275 RIC Volume II, Part 1 (second edition), Titus, No. 462 Obverse depiction: Augustus, radiate head facing left Inscription: DIVVS AV _____ GVSTVS PATER Reverse depiction: Eagle with wings spread standing on Globe Inscription: IMP T CAES AVG RESTITVIT - S C (above, left and right) 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 left Inscription: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER Reverse depiction: Altar enclosure with double doors Inscription: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C (left and right) - PROVIDENT (in exergue) 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 crown Inscription: AGRIPPA L F COS III Reverse depiction: Neptune standing left holding small dolphin and trident Inscription: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C (left and right) 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 left Inscription (clockwise from bottom left): TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS IMP VIII Reverse depiction: Large S C Inscription (clockwise from 12 o’clock): IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG REST 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. 234 RIC Volume II, Part 1 (second edition), Titus, No. 472 (Sear No. 2601) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and demurely raising skirt with left hand Inscription: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C (left and right) Links relating to this coin: Sear Roman Coins and their Values (RCV 2000 Edition) Number 2601 (via Wildwinds Claudius) Sale: CNG, Triton XII, Lot: 555 (5 January 2009) (relating to the Titus restoration of the Claudius Spes sestertius) AUGUSTUS DUPONDIUS, TITUS RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD (28 mm, 10.1 gm) BMCRE Volume II, Rome, Titus No. 265 (pl. 54.1) RIC Volume II (1962 Edition), Rome, Titus, No. 190 RIC Volume II, Part 1 (second edition), Titus, No. 445 (Sear No. 2601) Obverse depiction: Augustus head, radiate, facing right Inscription: : DIVVS AVGVS-TVS PATER Reverse depiction: Winged Victory alighting left, round shield in right hand inscribed SP/QR in two lines; S C left and right Inscription: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C (left and right)
Love this coin. This the first depiction of an eagle I have seen. Does the globe represent the world? (your photo)
No... not even close really. I am not sure when the eagle was first depicted on a coin - but here is my earliest - which was struck over 500 years prior: (sorry about the picture - I am a terrible photographer.. this is also the smallest coins I own.) AEOLIS, KYME AR Hemiobol OBVERSE: Eagle's head left, KY to left (M beneath the head, nearly off flan) REVERSE: Quadrapartite incuse square of mill-sail pattern Struck at Aeolis, circa 450BC .47g, 7.7mm
Terrific coins and most informative write-up jamesicus. Although it is horrible, I am happy to say that I have one of these - it came in an undescribed lot of junk: A visual enhancement for the reverse inscription: Titus Æ As Germanicus Restoration Issue (80-81 A.D.) Rome Mint GER[MANICVS CAESAR TI AV]G F DIVI AVG N, head of Germanicus, bare, left / IMP T CAES [DIVI VESP F] AVG REST · around large S-C. RIC 442 (RIC [1962] 228) (Titus) (8.25 grams / 23 mm) eBay May 2020 Lot @ $4.17 Notes: "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." (Harold Mattingly via Coin Talk, Jamesicus)
What a great write-up, @jamesicus!! Historically important coins, too! Alas, I have no restoration coinage of Titus.
Thank you Mike. Nice find in a pile of junk coins! I like the way you have “highlighted” the heavily worn legend letters!
Precious and educational write-up. I felt it's typically academic. I'll try to find if I have any "Restored" coins of Titus in my collection.
One coin (right) was originally found in the south of England around 1865 and the other one I bought, as they are die-identical; we can expect all of these coins to come from one die pair
I have two coins struck by Titus that fit here , the AS below its a little corroded , I bought it mainly because of the right facing portrait , the large majority of ''DIVVS AVGVSTVS'' types are left facing. I also bought a sestertius , I hope to have it next week and post it here. Augustus AE As, restoration issue by Titus. RIC 458 [titus] DIVI AVGVSTVS PATER, radiate head of Augustus right / IMP T VESP AVG REST, eagle standing facing on globe, wings spread, head right.
Thank you for posting the pic of that coin @singig. I am looking forward to the pic of that sestertius you just purchased. James
The representation of winged Victory on the reverse of my Titus restored Divvs Augustus dupondius is carrying a round shield inscribed SP/QR in two lines: The representation of winged Victory on the reverse of the following Nero As is carrying a round shield inscribed SPQR in one line …………… as is this one (very faint) …………… Out of pure curiosity on my part, please post pics of any of your coins that have winged Victory reverses. ……………
Additional information: Some later Emperors issued coins that included REST as part of the reverse legend that pertains to the restoration of a famous structure, monument, temple, etc. rather than the restoration of the coins themselves. For example, the following denarius was issued by Antoninus Pius to commemorate his restoration of the temple of Divvs Augustus which had burned to the ground many years earlier - the REST in the reverse legend refers to his restoration/rebuilding of the temple. Antoninus Pius issued a series of coins in various denominations so inscribed: ANTONINUS PIUS, DENARIUS, RIC III, ROME, NO. 284 16.67mm, 3.73 grams Obverse depiction: bust of Antoninus Pius, laureate, facing right Obverse Inscription: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXII Reverse depiction: Octastyle Temple with figures (Augustus and Livia?) inside. Reverse Inscription: AED DIVI AVG REST COS IIII in exergue. Original Temple of Divvs Augustus as depicted on a sestertius of Caligula: CAIUS (CALIGULA), SESTERTIUS, BMCRE Vol. I, Rome, No. 69 (Pl. 29.12) CAIUS (CALIGULA), SESTERTIUS, RIC Vol. I, Rome, No. 51 (40-41AD, 35mm, 26.2gm) Obverse depiction: Personification of Pietas, draped, seated left Inscription: C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG PM TRP IIII PP (in exergue): PIETAS Reverse depiction: Caligula, veiled and togate, standing left holding patera over altar - attendants (victimarius) on either side holding bull for sacrifice - hexastyle temple of Divus Augustus, surmounted by quadriga and festooned with garlands, in background. Reverse Horizontal Inscription: {small lettering} DIVO AVG and below: S C (left and right) Note: Also BMCRE 41, RIC 36 - with obverse legend: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PM TR POT (in exergue): PIETAS
As I promised , I will post the Claudius sestertius(struck by Titus) ordered some weeks ago. It's similar with the one presented by @jamesicus , it has a left facing portrait and in a different style(possibly another engraver), also the emperor looks much older. I was able to find only one sestertius with this style of portrait, same obverse die : https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4766189 Divus Claudius AE Sestertius. Restitution under Titus, 80 AD. RIC 475 TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P, laureate head left / IMP T VESP AVG REST S-C, Spes advancing left, holding flower & hem of skirt. Cohen 104. 25.3 g / 35 mm