The Jewish War was a gift that kept on giving for the Flavian dynasty. This rare Judaea Capta semis was struck a decade after the fall of Jerusalem for Titus as Augustus somewhere in the East. Even mere provincials had to be continuously reminded of Titus's military prowess in Judaea. The coin did not come cheap ... but that's to be expected for a Flavian Judaea Capta. At any rate, I'm very pleased to have finally added this most elusive coin! Titus Æ Semis, 4.11g Eastern Mint (Thrace?), 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T CAESAR DIVI VESPAS F AVG; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: IVD CAP across field; S C in field; Palm tree; to l., Judaea std. l. on arms; to r., yoke RIC 504 (R). BMC 259. BNC 275. RPC -. Hendin 1598. Acquired from Herakles, March 2021. An unidentified Eastern mint struck coins for Titus sometime between 80-81. The style (heavily seriffed letters, large portraits, and massive reverse figures), unique obverse legends (DIVI VESP F for Titus), and uncommon fabric (flat, almost convex flans) all suggest a mint other than Rome. Attributing exactly where these coins were struck has historically been a moving target - Mattingly in BMCRE thought Lugdunum, H.A. Cahn believed somewhere in Bithynia. More recent scholarship has looked towards Thrace as a possible location for production based on the Balkan distribution pattern of found specimens. Although the region of mintage has been narrowed down, the city itself remains elusive. RPC has suggested possibly Perinthus. Presumably a shortage of bronze coins in the region during Titus' reign prompted a localised imperial issue. The striking of imperial bronze outside of Rome was an exceptional step at the time considering the last imperial branch mint at Lugdunum had shuttered late in Vespasian's reign. The issue consisted of sestertii, dupondii, asses, and semisses which copied types struck at Rome. This rare Judaea Capta, reminiscent of the ones struck for the sestertii, is the only reverse type that was produced for the semis. Oddly not listed in RPC. NB: The Judaea Capta design on this coin includes a yoke, which was absent from Vespasian's issues.
I didn’t know there were Judaea Capta issues in this denomination. Interesting. One doesn’t see an awful lot of semis in the first place, surely. Edit: semisses. Thank you. I was fumbling for the plural, and thought that might be it, but wasn’t sure until I glanced again and saw it in your post.
