Rewriting the History of Titus's Coinage

[David Atherton]

This is what being a specialist is all about - discovering new types and issues! My latest acquisition does just that.

I had this coin in my watch list on eBay for quite sometime, not quite sure what to make of it. It was unpublished, unlisted, and totally unknown. I contacted RIC II.1 co-author Ian Carradice about the piece and we were both stumped ... until an obverse die match came to Ian's attention with a different reverse design. The rest, as we say, is history ...

 

 

Titus

Æ Sestertius, 23.19g
Rome mint, 80 AD
Obv: IMP T CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IVDAEA CAPTA; S C in exergue; Palm tree; to l., Titus stg. r. with spear and parazonium, foot on helmet; to r., Judaea std. r.
RIC 135A (R3). BMC -. BNC -. Hendin -.
Acquired from Felicitas Perpetua, eBay, March 2023.

A unique Rome mint Judaea Capta sestertius struck in early 80 as part of a newly discovered transitional issue. The first issue of 80 (Group 1) consists of three rare reverse types: Judaea Capta with standing captive, Pax, and Mars all with outwardly inscribed obverse legends starting counter clockwise from the lower right. Group 2 is the massive bronze issue Titus struck between 80-81 with inwardly inscribed obverse legends clockwise starting from the lower left and featuring 'VESP' instead of the previous issue's 'VESPASIAN'. With the discovery of this Judaea Capta sestertius along with an obverse die match Mars type (as on RIC 135 from the previous group), we can now say for certain that there was a brief transitional issue struck between the two groups, (now called Group 1A) featuring inwardly inscribed legends with 'VESPASIAN'. This Judaea Capta reverse with standing emperor copies the famous prototype originally struck under Vespasian and previously only known for Titus in a rare issue from the Thracian mint. The type was likely fleetingly struck until proper reverse designs were newly prepared for Titus's Group 2 bronze issue - the common 'IVD CAP' with standing captive would later replaced it. As of now, this unique specimen is the only known sestertius with the old Vespasianic design struck at Rome* for Titus. A tremendous discovery that rewrites the history of Titus's bronze coinage! Ian Carradice has assigned it as RIC 135A in the upcoming RIC II.1 Addenda & Corrigenda.

 

In hand.

 

 

*Curtis Clay has proposed (Gemini IX, lot 448) a Thracian origin for the Group 1 issue because of the flat fabric of the flans (a trademark of the Thracian mint), many of the specimens came to market after the fall of the Iron Curtain, and the reverse designs match those struck later at the Thracian mint. He further argues the 'Rome mint' style can be explained by Roman die engravers being transferred to Thrace. The style indeed mirrors contemporary Rome mint denarii, which can only be a result of the same engravers working on both issues. Despite the flat fabric of the flans, the style does not match up to the later Thracian issues (heavily seriffed letters, large portraits), and the circulation pattern appears to be similar with the Rome mint issues. For the time being I'll attribute Group 1 and 1A to Rome until further evidence comes to light. FWIW, the above coin appears to be a metal detectorist find, possibly from the UK.

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by David Atherton

[Limes]

Great addition David, congratulations! Looks much better in hand by the way.  

5 hours ago, David Atherton said:

The type was likely fleetingly struck until proper reverse designs were newly prepared for Titus's Group 2 bronze issue - the common 'IVD CAP' with standing captive would later replaced it.

And, if I understand it correctly (but I might be wrong), does the reverse of this coin actually show Vespasian on the reverse? 

[David Atherton]

54 minutes ago, Limes said:

And, if I understand it correctly (but I might be wrong), does the reverse of this coin actually show Vespasian on the reverse? 

Traditionally for this type in RIC the standing figure on the reverse corresponds with the obverse portrait.

[Jay GT4]

A great discovery David.  Congrats

[David Atherton]

10 hours ago, Limes said:

Great addition David, congratulations! Looks much better in hand by the way.  

And, if I understand it correctly (but I might be wrong), does the reverse of this coin actually show Vespasian on the reverse? 

I just took it for granted the type depicts the personage on the obverse as the standing figure ... but doing a bit of in-depth digging I found not all references agree!

RIC II.1 - Obv. personage
BMC - Prince
Sear - Obv. personage
BNC - emperor
Hendin - Vespasian

I did not want you to think my previous answer was the last word on the matter!

[Orfew]

A wonderful coin! This is why I love researching coins. Not only do you get a great coin, but so much is learned in the research process. Congratulations David

 

[David Atherton]

1 hour ago, Orfew said:

A wonderful coin! This is why I love researching coins. Not only do you get a great coin, but so much is learned in the research process. Congratulations David

 

And I think with the new sestertius Group 1A this is just the beginning. IMHO, the Pax and 'standing captive' types were also struck for it and hopefully new specimens will surface soon.

Edited April 19, 2023 by David Atherton