Titus rewards the troops, 3 rare coins!

[Jay GT4]

It's not often you can pinpoint the exact time of minting, the exact people who received the payment and the reason why payment was given. The following 3 coins are part of a small series of tetradrachms struck in Caesarea Maritima shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.  After its fall, Titus spent three days outside the city handing out rewards and spoils to his troops.
"Then descending with his army to Caesarea Maritima, he there deposited the bulk of his spoils and directed that his prisoners should be kept in custody; for the winter season prevented his sailing for Italy" (Josephus)

It has been suggested this series of tetradrachms was struck during Titus' time in Caesaera. The style is fairly crude and is similar to other bronze coins attributed to Caesarea Maritima. The Silver quality is not consistant, which gives evidence of a military issue. Being stuck just days or a week after the fall of Jerusalem, surely these were part of the rewards Titus distributed to the troops.  As always, thanks to David for additional info.

 

RPC 1965 Vespasian Tetradrachm

ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙΣ ΟΥΕΣΠΑΣΙΑΝ
Laureate bust of Vespasian right with aegis

ETOYΣ Γ IEPOY
Eagle standing left with wreath in beak on palm branch; club in left field

Caesarea Maritima mint, 70-71 CE

13.63g
RPC 1965 (1 spec.). Prieur 129.
Ex-Cgb

 

RPC 1968 Titus

ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΤΙΤΟΣ ΚΑΙΣ ΟΥΕΣΠ
Laureate head right with aegis

ΕΤΟΥΣ Γ ΙΕΡΟΥ
Eagle standing left with wreath in beak on palm branch; club in left field

Caesarea Maritima
70 CE (Group 6, year3)
14.25g

Ex-Cgb

RPC 1968/2 (this coin); McAlee 380 (this coin) noted as "MC" (My coin) from his own collection; Prieur 141,

A rare coin!

 

RPC 1969 Titus tetradrachm

ΑΥΤΟΚΡ • ΤΙΤΟΣ ΚΑΙΣ ΟΥΕΣΠ
Laureate head of Titus right with Aegis

ΕΤΟΥΣ Γ ΙΕΡΟΥ
eagle standing, left with wreath in beak on caduceus; quiver (?) and bow to r. of eagle's head

Caesarea Maritima
70 CE (Group 6, year3)
14.75g

RPC 1969; McAlee 34, Prieur 142
Rare (5 specimens RPC online) die matched to #5

Ex-Denarius Ringsrud (Norway); Ex. Münzzentrum Köln, auction 43 lot 188, plate p. 32 (27 April 1981).

Thanks for looking. 

Feel free to post any coins with very specific dates or recipients...

 

Edited November 29, 2022 by Jay GT4

[Roman Collector]

Interesting and historically important coins, @Jay GT4! Lovely additions to your numophylacium.

Not one with a specific date or recipient, but my only coin from Caesarea Maritima.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman provincial Æ 20.6 mm, 9.69 g, 1 h.
Judea, Caesarea Maritima, c. 156-165 CE.
Obv: FΛVSTINΛ ΛVGVSTΛ, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: COL PRIMΛ FL ΛVG CΛESΛREΛ, turreted Fortuna standing left, foot on prow, holding small bust and scepter; at feet, right, river god swimming right.
Refs: RPC IV.3, 8485.3 (this coin); Rosenberger 37 var. (legend retrogr.); Katman Caesarea 48; Sofaer 43 var.
Notes: Tareq Hani Coll. = Savoca Silver 108, 31 Jul. 2021, lot 403.

[shanxi]

Bautiful coins !

9 hours ago, Jay GT4 said:

Feel free to post any coins with very specific dates

A Titus with a specific date

Titus
Alexandria
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: AVTOK TITOV KAIΣ OYEΣΠAΣIANOY ΣEBA, laureate head right
Rev.: [NIΛOΣ], bust of Nilus with lotus flower, LΓ=year 3 (80/81).
Billon, 13.36g, 21x23.7mm
Ref.: Geißen 324 var., Dattari 425

 

Edited November 29, 2022 by shanxi

[Al Kowsky]

Pictured below are coins struck at the Caesarea Maritima Mint from my collection 😊.

 

Caesarea Maritima, Titus, AD 79-81 (dated Year 3 of Vespasian). AR Tetradrachm: 14.25 gm, 25 mm, 12 h. Prieur 141; McAlee 380. Ex Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection. This is a more common type than the coin pictured above.

 

The two coins pictured below were also struck at the Caesarea Maritima Mint under the reign of Caracalla, to pay soldiers for his purposed war against the Parthian/Persian Empire.

 

[seth77]

Celebrating the Roman victory but a couple of years after the fact (72-3) and on a base metal type used by the local population in Caesarea and likely beyond in Judaea and Samaria:

[Jay GT4]

11 hours ago, Al Kowsky said:

Pictured below are coins struck at the Caesarea Maritima Mint from my collection 😊.

 

Caesarea Maritima, Titus, AD 79-81 (dated Year 3 of Vespasian). AR Tetradrachm: 14.25 gm, 25 mm, 12 h. Prieur 141; McAlee 380. Ex Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection. This is a more common type than the coin pictured above.

 

The two coins pictured below were also struck at the Caesarea Maritima Mint under the reign of Caracalla, to pay soldiers for his purposed war against the Parthian/Persian Empire.

 

Great coins everyone.  Al, I think our Titus tetradrachms are die matched!

Edited November 29, 2022 by Jay GT4

[Al Kowsky]

18 minutes ago, Jay GT4 said:

Great coins everyone.  Al, I think our Titus tetradrachms are die matched!

Jay, Thanks for the tip 😊. I'll have to do a coin comparison when I get the time on Friday or Saturday. Unfortunately our coins have heavy wear as all these coins do, so reaching a confident conclusion will be a real challenge 🤔....

[Jay GT4]

19 hours ago, shanxi said:

Bautiful coins !

A Titus with a specific date

Titus
Alexandria
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: AVTOK TITOV KAIΣ OYEΣΠAΣIANOY ΣEBA, laureate head right
Rev.: [NIΛOΣ], bust of Nilus with lotus flower, LΓ=year 3 (80/81).
Billon, 13.36g, 21x23.7mm
Ref.: Geißen 324 var., Dattari 425

 

That's a lovely Alexandrian!