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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 4898373, member: 82616&quot;]As a specialist there is a certain thrill when acquiring the second known specimen of a particular type. My latest coin was previously known from just one example ... until now.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1182024[/ATTACH]<b>Titus as Caesar [Vespasian]</b></p><p>Æ Dupondius, 11.37g</p><p>Lyon mint, 77-78 AD</p><p>Obv: T CAES IMP AVG F TR P COS VI CENSOR; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.; globe at point of bust</p><p>Rev: FIDES PVBLICA; S C in field; Fides stg. l., with patera and cornucopiae</p><p>RIC 1255 (R3). BMC -. BNC -.</p><p>Acquired from CGB.fr, September 2020.</p><p><br /></p><p>Possibly a second known example of the rare dupondius Fides type for Titus Caesar at Lyon (Lugdunum) - although Giard cites one specimen and Cohen cites another, so perhaps mine is actually the third known despite the R3 rating in RIC. Fides was struck far more commonly for Vespasian at this mint, leading Curtis Clay to conclude this type for Titus Caesar may very well be a mule. FIDES PVBLICA, the good faith of the state, was a common personification on the coinage. The figure on the reverse is likely based on a cult statue of the goddess whose annual sacrifice occurred on 1 October. Important documents of state and treaties were stored in her temple for safe keeping. The laureate portrait seen here is standard for Titus&#039;s dupondii at Lugdunum. Of note, Titus&#039;s censorship is given prominent billing in the obverse legend.</p><p><br /></p><p>Not only is this a super rare coin, it is a splendid example engraved in fine style.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your unique or second known specimens.</p><p><br /></p><p>**<i>Special thanks to Curtis Clay for Addenda and Corrections</i>**[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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