A Rare Titus Genius As

[David Atherton]

There are four varieties of this Genius type struck for Titus: one with reverse legend GENI and a second with reverse GENIO, both with portraits either facing right or left. My latest addition is the GENIO variety with obverse portrait left. It tends to be slightly rarer than the GENI variant.

 

Titus
Æ As, 11.30g
Rome mint, 80-81 AD
Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, l.
Rev: GENIO P R; S C in field; Genius stg. l., with patera over altar and cornucopiae
RIC 228 (R). BMC 211. BNC 216.
Acquired from Nova Coins, October 2024.

GENIO P R - 'The spirit of the Roman people' is not a common motif in Flavian coinage, although in 69 AD it was a popular type during the Year of the Four Emperors. H. Mattingly connects the type under Titus with 'the vows undertaken for the first five years of the new reign'. The coin is dated COS VIII which Titus held in 80 (he did not renew the consulship in 81). This left facing portrait variety is listed as 'rare' in RIC.

In hand.

 

Thank you for looking!

Edited November 26, 2024 by David Atherton

[CPK]

That's a great portrait of Titus, and an interesting reverse design. Congrats!

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Very nice pick up!