I was quite excited to recently have won this iconic Titus Judaea Capta sestertius. Received it over a week ago and I'm still mooning over it! Titus Æ Sestertius, 25.80g Rome mint, 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, l. Rev: IVD CAP across field; S C in exergue; Palm tree; to l., Judaea std. l. on arms; to r., Captive stg. r., looking back RIC 149 (C). BMC 165. BNC 157. Hendin 1592. Ex Bertolami E-Live Auction 236, 24-25 September 2022, lot 800. The Jewish War was a gift that kept on giving for the Flavian dynasty. This rare Judaea Capta commemorative sestertius was struck a decade after the fall of Jerusalem for Titus as Augustus. The new emperor wished to remind the Roman populace of his military bona fides and his part in the Jewish War. This later variant of the type differs from those stuck under Vespasian by the shortened reverse legend (IVD CAP instead of IVDAEA CAPTA) and the presence of an oblong shield or yoke(?) to the right of the standing captive. COS VIII dates the coin to either 80 or 81, although it's possible the IVD CAP types were struck in 80 to coincide with the opening of the massive Flavian Amphitheater. A recently discovered dedicatory inscription of the building states "The Emperor Titus Caesar Vespasian Augustus Commanded the New Amphitheater to be Built from the Spoils of War." Combined with the original decoration scheme of palm trees, shields, and captives it is compelling evidence the IVD CAP coins were issued during the structure's inaugural games in the late spring or early summer of 80. Titus's Judaea Capta sestertii are much rare than those struck for Vespasian. Finding them in trade, unlike Vespasian's, can be quite difficult! Thanks for looking!
@david Nice! Congrats! And it was, after all, Titus, not his Daddy Vespy, who was actually there onsite, leading the Roman army at the time the city was finally captured. I have a Vespasian Capta sestertius, but not (yet) a Titus Capta sestertius :-( But I do have a few non-sestertius Titus Capta coins, including... Titus as Caesar, "Judaea Capta" Denarius. AR Denarius, struck in Antioch, 72-73 A.D. Obv.: T CAES IMP VESP PON TR POT; Titus’ head, laureate, r., bust draped. Rev.: No legend. Titus, in triumphal quadriga, r.; holding branch and sceptre. Attrib.: Hendin 6th 6523 (5th 1493). Cohen 395. RIC II 1563. RPC II 1935. [CNG Auction 194, Lot # 233.] Notes: Considered part of the Judea Capta series. This reverse specifically commemorates the Judea Capta Triumphal Parade held in June of 71 A.D.
I believe my denarius of Domitian Caesar is related to the triumphal parade: DOMITIAN, as Caesar under Vespasian, AR silver denarius. Rome, 73 AD. CAES AVG F DOMIT COS II, laureate head right. Reverse - Domitian, togate, riding on horse prancing left, holding sceptre in left hand and raising right. Cohen 664, BMC Vespasian 129, RIC Vespasian 608.
I think you are correct. 'While taking part in the Judaean triumph, he (Domitian) rode on a white horse.' (Suetonius, Domitian, ii)
Indeed! Here's a bronze dupondius version of that same historical event: DOMITIAN, Caesar. 69-81 AD. Æ Dupondius Struck in Rome under Vespasian 72/73 A.D. Obv.: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II, laureate, draped bust right. Rev.: PRINCIP-IV VENT, Domitian on horseback, left, holding scepter, raising r. hand. S-C below. Weight: 13.74 gr. Diam.: 28 mm. Attrib.: RIC II.1 662 (Vespsian). Cohen 400. Paris 696. BMC 686 Notes: Dark green patina. For his victory from the war in Judea, the Senate awarded Titus a Roman triumph. On the day of the festivities, the Flavian family rode into the capital, preceded by a lavish parade to display the spoils of the war. The family procession was headed by Vespasian & Titus, and Domitian, riding a magnificent white horse followed with the remaining Flavian relatives. -- Suetonius, Life of Domitian
