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Message:: [QUOTE="jamesicus, post: 3702563, member: 14873"]Current iteration of my web page: The "Restored" Coins of Titus, Domitian and NervaPlus information relating to the Restored coinage of Trajan Last updated: 8 September 2019 <img src="https://jp29.org/000augrestx.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />AUGUSTUS, AS, RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD(27mm, 10.71 gm)RIC Volume II, Part 1 (second edition), Titus, No. 462Obverse depiction: Augustus, radiate head facing leftInscription: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATERReverse depiction: Eagle with wings spread standing on GlobeInscription: IMP T CAES AVG RESTITVIT - S C (above, left and right) Wildwinds Augustus RIC 462 [titus] text has incorrect obverse inscription DIVI AVGVSTVS PATER Provenance:Ex Ancient Resource <img src="https://jp29.org/000ti1o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="https://jp29.org/000ti1r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />CLAUDIUS/TITUS SESTERTIUS - RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD(34.5mm, 23.12 gm)BMCRE Volume II, Rome, Titus No. 297RIC 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 PPReverse 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) <a href="http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s2601.html#RIC_0472[titus]" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s2601.html#RIC_0472[titus]" rel="nofollow">Sear Roman Coins and their Values (RCV 2000 Edition) Number 2601</a> (via Wildwinds Claudius) <a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=132778" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=132778" rel="nofollow">Sale: CNG, Triton XII, Lot: 555 (5 January 2009)</a> Provenance:Ex Dr. V.J.A. Flynn CollectionEx Praefectus coins Background Notes 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 a more contemporary style. It is essential to understand what original coins are being restored. For example the 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 spead winged Eagle sitting 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. Mattingly notes that the eagle is not a Roman bird but rather a symbol of immortality (bearing the soul of Augustus toward heaven?). As restored by Titus, the obverse of this coin retains the depiction of Augustus and the legend intact. The reverse retains the original spread winged eagle depiction but the legend becomes IMP T CAES AVG RESTITVIT - S C (above, left and right) which roughly equates to "The Emperor Titus is the restorer of this coin". RESTITVIT is sometimes abbreviated to REST There are variations of these reverse titulature inscriptions throughout the Restoration coin issues. 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. 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 Restoration coinage of Domitian in general followed 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 is different in that 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. There is some very interesting information relating to the Restoration/Restitution coinage of Trajan in <a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=301355" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=301355" rel="nofollow">this CNG listing</a>. Note especially the Curtis Clay Commentary. [/QUOTE]

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