Extremely fine preserved Titus aureus
Price: on request
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Object number
AR1694
| Coined in the name of: | Titus (Titus Flavius Caesar Vespasianus Augustus) |
| Reign: | 79 - 81 AD |
| Value: | Aureus |
| Material: | Gold |
| Details: | Diameter: 20 mm, weight: 7.21 gramm. Rome mint, 79-81 AD |
| Avers: | Laureate bust right T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN |
| Revers: | Aeternitas standing left in front of an altar, over her raised hands heads of Sol and Luna AETERNITAS |
| Condition: | Extremely fine. Interesting countermark in shape of an "M" on the Revers. |
| References: | RIC (Vespasian) 856; Cohen 13; BMC 302. |
| Rarity: | Extremely rare, not known to the authors of the first edition of RIC II. |
| Historical note: | Titus who was the second Flavian emperor is nowadays mainly known his victory in the first Jewish-Roman war, sometimes also referred to as "The Great Revolt". Indeed, it constituted the first out of four rebellions of the population of the Roman province of IVDAEA against the Roman occupation. The revolt began 66 AD and was - at the beginning - quite successful. The troops of G. C. Gallus who was sent to subdue the rebellion were defeated and driven out of the country. Enraged, Nero sent his experienced general Vespasian, who was accompanied by his son Titus, to crush the rebellion. Initially, Titus was in command of LEG XV Apollinaris. After Nero's death 69 AD, the year of the four emperors, finally Vespasian became emperor, leaving the war in Judaea to his son. The situation at the front lines was in any case rather stagnating since 67 AD due to the unclear situation of the empire. In 70 AD, Titus besieged Jerusalem for several months. When the city finally was conquered, the losses among the defenders were enormous, ancient sources speak of up to one million of victims. The Temple, central sanctuary of the people, was destroyed, the temple treasury brought to Rome and presented to the Roman people in a triumphal procession. This event is depicted on Titus' arch on the Forum Romanum. This coin gives you the opportunity to acquire a very rare piece from an emperor whose doing strongly influenced the political reality for two thousand years until the present day. |
| Provenance: | Acquired 2012 from a numismatics gallery. |
| Authenticity: | We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity. A Certificate of Authenticity will be issued. |