David Atherton

I've always wanted one of those, but the daunting assembly frightened me off!

Oh yes, that's the very definition of an unassuming rarity!

One could be forgiven for overlooking this Titus Caesar sestertius with Fortuna on the reverse as anything special. It would seem to be a 'common' type. However, after 71 Vespasian's bronze coinage output dwindled more and more year after year. By the time the present coin was struck in 76 sestertii were scarcely produced in any quantities. So yes, the Fortuna type itself is quite common on Flavian bronzes, but not common from this issue struck in 76 with Titus as COS V! An unassuming rarity! Titus as Caesar [Vespasian] Æ Sestertius, 24.44g Rome mint, 76 AD Obv: T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS V; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: FORTVNAE REDVCI; S C in field; Fortuna stg. l., with branch and rudder on globe, and cornucopiae RIC 904 (R2). BMC -. BNC -. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 45. Ex Curtis Clay Collection. Ex Artemide eLive Auction 4, 9 September 2018, lot 264. An extremely rare sestertius struck for Titus Caesar under Vespasian in 76. Vespasian and Titus often shared reverse types, normally those struck for Titus are a bit scarcer. This Fortuna type here symbolises Titus' safe return from the East after the Jewish War. RIC cites one specimen in Vienna. Missing from both the BM and Paris collections. Bold Flavian portrait. In hand. Please feel free to share your 'unassuming' rarities. As always, thank you for looking!

I love reading Alan Walker. Thanks for posting this!

Yes, what a crime to world heritage. But that's the sort of thing that happens when an authoritarian takes over a country. Speaking of the Meta Sudans, although the structure is depicted on the OP sestertius it's highly unlikely to have been completed when the coin was struck. Roman die engravers had a habit of depicting buildings and structures on the coinage that had yet to be built or finished. Titus certainly planned it and announced the fact, but the excavated brickwork shows Domitianic stamps. Plus, later Roman chronographers date the structure to Domitian's reign. Titus likely started construction but Domitian finished it.

The perfect book for a classics fan on Halloween.

If anyone is interested, classical historian Tom Holland recently covered the Colosseum in his The Rest is History podcast. https://podtail.com/en/podcast/the-rest-is-history/369-the-colosseum-rome-s-arena-of-death/ "Are you not entertained?!"

Yes, that is what most scholars believe it is.

I've long admired your own specimen. Thank you for sharing it!

In Harlan J Berk's 100 Greatest Ancient Coins it's the second highest Roman coin, only the EID MAR ranks higher.

No new evidence that I am aware of, but Elkins' theory is compelling enough that I've adopted it. I think his book on the Colosseum is fantastic, primarily because it concentrates on the Flavian history of the structure. https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12041/monument-dynasty-and-death

When I saw that you acquired your own dream grail, I thought why not? Thank you for the inspiration!

I saw it featured in the podcast, in a YouTube short, and finally on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyjBWaAud6x/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng== Everywhere I turned it kept popping up. I guess it was fate.

I'm a lifelong fan of Roman history. Many of the Roman history books I read as a child illustrated coins depicting the Colosseum. From an early age I was aware of these coins. Before collecting Roman coins I thought I'd never hold one, after I started collecting I never thought I'd own one ... that is until now. Recently, this piece came up for sale, although worn it's honest and the major devices are still intact, but more importantly price-wise it was within reach. I cannot think of another coin type I would want more. It is a way to connect with my childhood while simultaneously touching a history I've always found immensely fascinating. The recent addition of other 'dream coins' on the forum was an inspiration too! Titus Æ Sestertius, 24.48g Rome mint, 80-81 AD Obv: No legend; Flavian amphitheatre; to l., Meta Sudans; to r., porticoed building Rev: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR PPP COS VIII; Titus std. l. on curule chair with branch and roll; around, arms; S C in field RIC 184 (R2). BMC 190. BNC 189. Hendin 1594. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 456. Ex Harlan J Berk MBS 35, 12 February 1985, lot 361. “As long as the Coliseum stands, Rome shall stand; when the Coliseum falls, Rome will fall; when Rome falls, the whole world will fall.” ― Venerable Bede In June of 80 AD Titus spectacularly opened the Flavian amphitheatre with a series of inaugural games lasting 100 days. This rare sestertius commemorates the event in a no less impressive fashion. Vespasian had begun construction nearly a decade before, but it was Titus who virtually completed it. The obverse features an inventive bird's eye view of the structure from the Temple of Claudius on the Caelian Hill, with the Meta Sudans to the left and the porticoes of the Baths of Titus to the right. The depiction of the three structures on the obverse is strong evidence the Romans viewed the amphitheatre as part of a larger entertainment complex. The reverse features Titus seated surrounded by a pile of captured arms, identical to sestertii struck for Claudius. Taken together both obverse and reverse pays homage to Claudius, an emperor highly regarded by the Flavians. At the same time, the captured arms on the reverse and the decorative motif of the amphitheatre featuring palm trees and triumphal imagery commemorate the Jewish War which was still a major theme of Titus' coinage. Also, a recently discovered inscription which originally adorned one of the entrances proclaims the Flavian amphitheatre was built from the spoils of the Jewish War. Nathan t. Elkins believes the rarity of these coins today may hint that they were issued primarily for distribution at the opening games as souvenirs of the occasion. Ben Lee Damsky has convincingly argued Titus' extensive pulvinar precious metal coinage commemorates the inaugural games as well. If that is the case, a large portion of Titus' coinage was devoted to these opening games and the fantastic venue in which they were held, emphasising the prominent place it held for Titus and the Flavian dynasty. The fact that it still serves as a symbol of the Roman Empire today shows that Titus was correct in his estimation of its importance. Like the Eid Mar denarii, the Colosseum sestertii are seen today as one of the most well known and iconic coin types struck by the Roman Empire. In hand. Aaron Berk estimates there are no more than 80 of these coins in existence today, many of which have tooling and/or smoothing issues. Thankfully, this is one of the rare pieces that is untouched. A major gap in my collection has finally been filled! Please feel free to share your own dream coins. As always, thank you for looking and watching!

This two laurel branches type struck for Vespasian and Titus Caesar often have the same flan shape. Vespasian RIC 681 Vespasian RIC 681/690 Mule Titus Caesar RIC 690

One does wonder where that old die was stored in the 2 + years between it being struck under Galba and later under Vespasian. Did the mint have a 'library' of old dies and reverse types?

Thanks for the kind words! NB: Your thread on the JC dream coin helped inspire me to finally snag mine. Stay tuned ...

Another recent addition that I was thrilled to receive! Vespasian's sestertii from early 71 are quite rare - even more so with a reverse die recycled from Galba's reign! Vespasian Æ Sestertius, 26.55g Rome mint, 71 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M T P P P COS III; Bust of Vespasian, laureate, draped, r. Rev: SALVS AVGVSTA; S C in exergue; Salus std. l., with patera and sceptre RIC 111 (R2). BMC -. BNC -. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023,, lot 7. Ex Curtis Clay Collection. Ex Tom Cederlind. An extremely rare sestertius struck for Vespasian between January and March 71. Curtis Clay had this to say about the piece which I cannot improve upon: 'Kraay in his illuminating Oxford dissertation, summarized in the new RIC, p. 22, established that Vespasian's sestertii of 71 (COS III) fall into three successive groups marked by progressive abbreviations of the emperor's name, and he suggested the following dates for the groups: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M T P P P COS III: Jan.-March/April 71; Same but VESPASIAN and TR P for T P: March/April-July/August 71; Same but VESPAS: July/August-Dec. 71. The reverse SALVS AVGVSTA S C occurs mainly in the third and latest issue of the year. In the earlier groups this type is very rare. Obv. VESPASIANVS, with bust laureate and draped; the bust types and portrait features are much more varied in this early group than in the two later ones. Rev. SALVS AVGVSTA S C, from the only die known for this type in the VESPASIANVS issue. Kraay discovered that this is actually a rev. die of Galba's, engraved and used by Galba in 68 (Kraay's P 61), now reused by Vespasian about 2 1/2 years later!' An utterly fantastic piece! RIC describes many of the sestertii from this issue as 'monumental', I think the above coin fits that description perfectly. Missing from the BM and Paris collections. In hand. Do you have a coin that spans two reigns? I would love to see it. As always, thank you for looking!

Very reputable seller. He used to be active on the Forvm discussion boards back in the day. Never had an issue with him.

Yes! Obviously an artistic contrivance, but cool nonetheless.

I'm glad to see you've gotten one! Very impressive and you must be absolutely thrilled!

Last week I shared a rare as struck for Vespasian in 71 AD when he had begun rebuilding the Temple of Jupiter. https://www.numisforums.com/topic/5046-rebuilding-the-temple-of-jupiter/#comment-64410 This week I would like to share another as depicting the temple, this one struck after its completion. Vespasian Æ As, 9.80g Lyon mint, 77-78 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS VIII P P; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.; globe at point of bust Rev: S C in field; Temple of Capitoline Jupiter with six columns RIC 1239 (C). BMC 850. BNC 852. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 454. In December 69 AD the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter was set ablaze and destroyed during factional warfare in the city of Rome between Vitellian and Flavian forces. Upon Vespasian's victorious arrival in October 70, one of his first acts was to rebuild the temple, supposedly carrying the first basket of rubble from the site himself. He spared no expense on the new temple, lavishly rebuilding it along the same foundational lines and increasing its height. This as struck half a decade later perhaps commemorates the completion of the structure. Although rated as 'common' in RIC, this variety is very rare in trade. In hand. I've longed to have a bronze coin with a temple of Jupiter reverse ... what a shock it was to acquire two(!) in one week. As always, thank you for looking!

Sorry to hear about your health scare, but glad to know you're on the mend. Get well soon! Titus Caesar sends Salus wishes your way. Titus as Caesar [Vespasian] AR Denarius, 3.48g Rome mint, 73 AD Obv: T CAES IMP VESP PON TR POT CENS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: SALVS AVG; Salus std., l., with patera RIC 529A (R3). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -. Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection. Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 404, 2 November 2011, lot 2570

Excellent photo - it gives one an idea of how the temple of Vesta may have appeared.

Recently I was absolutely thrilled to have acquired this rare Temple of Vesta as struck by Vespasian. As a huge fan of architecture on Roman coins, it's been a long sought after variety and one of my top 'white whale' coins. Vespasian Æ As, 8.38g Rome mint, 73 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS IIII CENS; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: VES-TA across field; S C low in field; Temple, round, containing statue RIC 601 (R). BMC 664. BNC 663. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 37. Ex Curtis Clay Collection. A decently rare as from 73 depicting a round structure on the reverse, clearly identified on the coin as the temple of Vesta. This is the sixth incarnation of the temple, the fifth was destroyed in the great fire of 64 AD and it originally appeared on the coinage of Nero after his restoration of the structure. Vespasian likely embellished it, which perhaps explains its reappearance on the coinage (Tameanko p. 181). Conversely, Scott Arcenas in his study of Vespasian's temple of Vesta aurei has theorised its appearance here may symbolise the security of home and state rather than any building activity by Vespasian (Elkins p.79). It was a round temple mounted on a high podium and a narrow stairway approach. The columns were fitted with their own plinths and the surrounding intercolumniations laced with grillwork. The summit of the conical roof is flattened, presumably to hold a statue. The coin depicts a cult statue of Vesta between the columns, however, this figure could also be a visual representation of Vesta's eternal flame. The Flavian interest in her cult can best be explained by their desire for connection and continuity with Rome's sacred traditions after the horrors and tragedies of the recent Civil War. The type was fleetingly struck for Vespasian, Titus Caesar, and Domitian Caesar. In hand. Thank you for looking!