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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Blake Davis, post: 26657745, member: 91820&quot;]Won this beautiful Titus sestertius in the latest Leu auction - the reverse is down below:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1700748[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>34.5mm, 26.70 grams</p><p><br /></p><p>Titus struck a number of sestertii at an unknown mint in Thrace, but the more common ones - although none are common - show a large portrait and a more stylized reverse.&nbsp; This type with the more &quot;realistic&quot; portrait are <i>extremely</i> rare - ascearch does not show a single other example with this reverse, and only one like this but with a &quot;Judea Capta&quot; reverse.&nbsp; The flan on this coin is extremely well made and the coin is large and heavy with a medallic appearance.</p><p><br /></p><p>One of the reasons I love bronze is that what you get is often much better than what you see. That&#039;s due to the difficulty of photographing these coins - the pics have a tendency to show and exaggerate every mark and crack.&nbsp; Of course this works in reverse when the coin is sold.&nbsp; But on the whole bronzes are one of the few types where a sharp eye can recognize something greater than the photograph.&nbsp; I would love to say I have the skill to see this but I have made many mistakes in the past.&nbsp; And this one could use some very (VERY) careful cleaning - the coin has a small divot that fortunately does not distract from the beauty of the reverse.&nbsp; But a little cleaning is in order. </p><p><br /></p><p>All of Titus&#039; Thracian sestertii that I have seen have are COS VIII - I will supplement this with some history about that period [ATTACH=full]1700749[/ATTACH] I have not had the time to check out what events took place during Titus&#039; eighth counselship but will supplement.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>There is a coin of Domitian with a very even flan that shows Domitian on horseback spearing a soldier - there is a shield as well and a stylized portrait.&nbsp; This flan and overall look bears a heavy resemblance to that coin.&nbsp; I will photograph it and supplement but if this is Thracian minted - and it is - then perhaps Domitian&#039;s coin is as well.&nbsp; I know that Domitian also struck rare sestertii in Thrace - I came across an example while researching this coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>This was one of those times where the coin I purchased turned out to be ALOT nicer than the coin I thought I purchased - I am sure you have had the same experience. Perhaps you can share some examples?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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