| Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. > Buy or Bid Sale 226 | Auction date: 13 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 680 Price realized: Unsold | |
| Lot description: Set of Colosseum Sestertii by Titus and Domitian. ; Set of Colosseum Sestertii by Titus and Domitian; Two coins in lot. Coin #1: Titus; 79-81 AD, Rome, c. 80-81 AD, Sestertius, 27.99g. BM-190 pl. 50.2 (same rev. die), Paris-189 pl. LXXXI (same dies), RIC-184 (R2), Cohen-400 (80 Fr.). Obv: Colosseum seen from front and above between obelisk on base (Meta Sudans) and porticoed building of two stories (Baths of Titus), without legend; Rx: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII S - C Titus seated l. holding branch and roll on curule chair set on globe among arms. Ex Gemini XIII, 6 April 2017, lot 162. From a British collection, acquired in 1978 by Paul Munro Walker, Bournmouth. See N.T. Elkins, The Flavian Colosseum Sestertii, Numismatic Chronicle 166, 2006, p. 216, 6, pl. 31 (our dies). To demonstrate the popular nature of Vepasian's rule, the Colosseum was built on the site of Nero's demolished Golden Palace. The reverse type of Titus seated as master of the world (his curule chair set on globe), bringing peace (olive branch) by means of victory over enemies (captured arms), fits well with the recently discovered dedicatory inscription of the Colosseum, stating that the emperors constructed it "from booty" (ex manubis), doubtless chiefly the booty of the Jewish War. Coin #2: Domitian, Divus Titus; 81-96 AD, Rome, 81 AD, Sestertius, 25.02g. C-399 (80 Fr.), BMC Titus-191 note, RIC-131 (R), pl. 137 (same dies). Obv: No legend. The Flavian amphitheater filled with spectators, seen partly from above; Meta Sudans to l., two-storied porticus of the Baths of Titus to r. Rx: DIVO AVG T DIVI VESP F VESPASIAN Togate Titus seated l. on curule chair, holding branch and roll, and placing his feet on a captured cuirass; the curule chair rests on a globe, and other captured shields, spears, and a helmet are scattered before, below, and behind the emperor; S C in exergue. Titus himself struck the first Colosseum sestertii, but their production was then briefly continued by Domitian for Divus Titus, using one of the same Colosseum obverse dies that Titus had already used, coupled with two new reverse dies naming Divus Titus. Elkins knew just ten specimens of this Colosseum sestertius struck by Domitian for Divus Titus.To the best of our knowledge, a pair of Colosseum sestertii of this original period has never been offered together. The only other Colosseum coins issued are an exceptionally rare aureus and sestertius issued by Severus Alexander in 223, to commemorate the re-opening of the Colosseum after it had been struck by lightning in about 218, under the reign of Macrinus. These coins were struck 142 years after the coin of Domitian. Further study in the British Royal Numismatic Chronicle of 2006, in an article by Nathan T Elkins, "The Flavian Colosseum Sestertii: Currency or Largess?" shows that our Titus Colosseum is Elkins 7, of which 11 examples are recorded. But in total, there are about 40 examples from all recorded dies. Of Domitian colosseums, there are 10 recorded by Elkins. Our die is Elkins 9, of which there are six recorded, giving us a total of 10 by both dies, with our coin being the eleventh. Our coin is certainly unrecorded, as when we obtained it, it was in a slab from a far-less-used slabbing company, identified as Titus, and listed as corroded. In fact, our coin was not truly corroded at all, but rather heavily encrusted, and when it was artfully cleaned, it revealed the legend "DIVUS TITUS", which made it the excessively rare issue of Domitian. These coins are expected to feature in multiple upcoming publications; our Titus Colosseum is anticipated to replace #625B in David Hendin's "Guide to Biblical Coins" after the current 6th edition sells out. In this edition of David Hendin's Book, he lists the Domitian issue of the Colosseum, #626, as "RRR", the highest level of rarity. Even though this coin is listed in his book, it is not illustrated. Additionally, Whitman has hired Harlan J Berk to re-write Zander Klawans's book on Greek and Roman coins; in that book, this coin will certainly be illustrated. This pair of Colosseum Sestertii is being offered only as a pair at this FIXED PRICE of $325,000. . Coin #1: VF Coin #2: Some isolated corrosion, otherwise EF / VF Estimate: 325000 USD |  |
Match 1:
| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 187 | Silver | Auction date: 10 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 230 Price realized: 75 EUR (Approx. 81 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Titus, as Caesar AD 76-78. Struck ca. 71/72 AD. Ephesos Denarius AR 18 mm, 3,12 g [IMPE]RATOR T CAESAR [AVGVSTI F], laureate head right / PACI [AVG]VSTAE, Victory advancing right, holding wreath in right hand and palm over left shoulder; [EPHE] to lower right. Very Fine BMC 468; Cohen 124-5; RIC 1441-2; RIC 1441 (Vespasian). Titus Flavius Caesar Vespasianus Augustus, better known as Titus, was a Roman Emperor whose brief reign from AD 79 to 81 left a lasting impression on the history of Rome. Born in AD 39 in Rome, Titus was the eldest son of Emperor Vespasian, who founded the Flavian dynasty. Titus had a distinguished military upbringing, accompanying his father on various military campaigns. His skills as a military leader were evident when he served in the Roman legions and gained a reputation for his bravery and strategic acumen. One of the defining moments of Titus' reign was the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Ad 79, which buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under layers of volcanic ash. Despite the scale of the disaster, Titus displayed empathy and took charge of relief efforts, providing aid to the survivors. During his reign, Titus inaugurated the magnificent Flavian Amphitheater, now famously known as the Colosseum, in AD 80. The grand opening was marked by a lavish 100-day spectacle of gladiatorial contests, wild animal hunts, and various other entertainments. The celebrations showcased Titus' generosity and popularity among the Roman populace. Titus also played a significant role in the First Jewish-Roman War during his father's reign. After Vespasian's victory, Titus led the siege of Jerusalem in AD 70. The conquest resulted in the destruction of the Second Temple, a significant event in Jewish history, and the subsequent dispersal of Jewish communities. Tragically, Titus' reign came to an untimely end when he succumbed to a fever in AD 81, at the age of 41. His sudden death marked the beginning of a more contentious period in Roman history, as his younger brother, Domitian, ascended to the throne. Titus' legacy endures as one of Rome's "good emperors," celebrated for his capable leadership, compassion, and ability to maintain relative stability during his short but impactful rule. The Colosseum, a testament to his grandeur, remains an enduring symbol of his reign and a beloved icon of ancient Roman architecture. Starting price: 50 EUR |  |
Match 2:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 733 Price realized: 4,000 USD (Approx. 3,664 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Titus. AD 79-81. Æ Dupondius (28.5mm, 17.18 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 80-81 (or a 16th-17th century fantasy). IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII, radiate head left / Conical fountain set on plinth (Meta Sudans) with statues set within alternating squared and arched recesses, S C across field; LM in ink (old collector or museum initials) in upper left field. RIC II.1 205; BN III Faux Modernes 28; Asolati, M. Note sulla medaglia all'antica d'età rinascimentale tra invenzioni, rivisitazioni e "ritocchi" (Milano, 2018), pp. 155–6; Heenes and Jansen, Jacopo Strada's Magnum AC Novum Opus, A Sixteenth-Century Corpus Of Ancient Numismatics (Berlin, 2022), pp. 292, no. 5 (this coin illustrated). Yellow-brown surfaces, minor marks and scratches, tooled and smoothed. Good VF. An extreme rarity, the only specimen not in a museum collection. LOT SOLD AS IS, NO RETURNS – Not Suitable For Encapsulation. The Meta Sudans was a tall fountain located in front of the Flavian Amphitheater, it marked the spot where processions would turn from the Via Trumphalis along the Palatine and onto the Roman Forum. It was erected shortly after the completion of the amphitheater, between AD 89-96. This coin is not without controversy. The consignor showed photos of this coin to the late Ted Buttrey, curator at the Fitzwilliam Museum, in the mid 1990s who studied it intently. He concluded that the coin must be genuine and gave the following appraisal: "The two pieces, RIC 205 = L195A and [this] piece, were struck from the same obverse die, while Paris was struck from a very similar die by the same engraver, the way the wreath ends terminate at CO and OS respectively. However, the reverses were struck from three separate dies, distinguished by the nature and placing of the arches below the steeple. It is certainly beyond belief that an evil modern craftsman, attempting to create an un-struck type for Titus, would have - or even could have - stretched out his hand toward the mountains of random asses and dupondii still surviving, and come up with three pieces to work on which had been produced virtually at the same moment at the Rome mint amid the abundant bronze coinages of 80-81 AD. I think we have to accept it as genuinely ancient." More recently, the coin was studied in-hand by the current curator of the Coins and Medals department at the British Museum who commented that he had seen genuine Titus dupondii with similar surfaces and concave flans and since Ted Buttrey had said it was authentic, he had no reason to disagree. He did confirm that it had been tooled and smoothed in similar fashion as the BM and BN specimens. In the years since Professor Buttrey's comments, further research has been done on this coin as well as others of its type. New evidence supports this being a Paduan-era medallion of the 16th-17th century schools in Italy. The Asolati and Heenes references cited above, one of which included this very coin, detail the works of Giovanni Cavino, Jacopo Strada, and other 16th century artists. Both authors believe that every extant specimen, including the BM coin, are Paduan-era medallions and that no genuine ancient coins of the type exist. It is interesting to note that the sestertius of this type has a laureate base instead of the statues seen here. Had an ancient celator carved the dies, we would expect to see a similar scene on both denominations. This lends credence to the belief that the Renaissance engravers had not actually seen the fountain they were engraving. A note from the consignor: "Dr. Heenes did not study my coin in hand when preparing his book, he only worked from a photo." Cataloger note: Since cataloging this coin for Triton, a new Paduan-era sestertius of Vitellius has been found, CNG E-551, lot 770. The reverses share unmistakable similarities; the alternating squared and arched recesses, the beaded edges around the enclosures, and the base style lead me to believe that both coins are the work of the same Renaissance engraver. There are only five of this type known: one each in the British Museum, Bibliothèque National, Nationale di Venezia, Banca Regionale del Veneto, and the one offered here from a private collection. This coin is the only specimen available in the public market and has been in the consignor's collection for over 50 years. Estimate: 1000 USD |  |
Match 3:
| Davissons, Ltd. > Auction 43 | Auction date: 20 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 129 Price realized: Unsold | |
| Lot description: Julia Titi. Augusta, A.D. 79-90/1. Æ dupondius. 12.54 gm. 27.5 mm. Uncertain Balkan mint. Struck under Titus, circa A.D. 80-81. Her draped bust right; IVLIA IMP T AVG F AVGVSTA / Ceres standing left, holding scepter and two grain ears; CERES AVGVST S C. RIC II.1 514 pl. 116 (same dies). RPC II 509 (7 examples). H. Cahn, "An Imperial Mint in Bithynia," INJ 8 (1984-5), 9. BMCRE 255. BN 266 (Titus). Cohen 2. Very Fine; attractive green and brown patina; small area of pitting at top of head on obverse, old and fully patinated; attractive portrait; well centered and pleasing. Extremely rare. Ex Harlan Berk BBS 165 (28 July 2009) lot 454 ("The letter forms, particularly the long serifs, show that this coin belongs to the auxiliary mint for bronzes in Thrace, possibly situated at Perinthus."). Julia Titi is the daughter of the emperor Titus, who served under his father Vespasian in Judea during the First Jewish-Roman War, commanding a Roman legion that captured and destroyed Jerusalem in 70 C.E. As emperor for just two years, he is best known for completing the Colosseum and for his generosity relieving suffering caused by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and a fire in Rome in 80. His daughter was known for her hot temper and wild nature. After her husband's death she had a scandalous affair with her uncle, the emperor Domitian. In A.D. 79 when Vespasian died and Titus became sole emperor, one of his first official acts was to raise his daughter Julia to the rank of Augusta, or Empress, the first woman in more than a decade to hold that exalted position. This rare provincial bronze presents a lovely portrait of the elusive Empress, her strong features suggesting an almost uncanny resemblance to her father. Estimate: 750 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 31075 Price realized: To Be Posted | |
| Lot description: Ancients Domitian, as Caesar (AD 81-96). AV aureus (19mm, 7.36 gm, 7h). NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5, edge scuffs. Rome, AD 80-81. CAESAR DIVI F DOMITIANVS COS VII, laureate head of Domitian right / PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS, lit altar adorned with garlands. Calicó 918a (same dies). RIC II.1 (Titus) 265. A phenomenal example from the last of the 12 Caesars, this coin showcases a handsome portrait of Domitian as Caesar, struck on brilliant reflective and amber surfaces. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 101 (24 October 2017), lot 222; H. D. Rauch, Auction 86 (12 May 2010), lot 692; Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 51 (5 March 2009), lot 242; Bourgey (1 February 1995), lot 16. Domitian has gone down in history as a depraved tyrant, but he was certainly not a madman like Caligula, nor was he an incompetent dilettante like Nero. As a young man, Domitian was largely overshadowed by his older brother Titus, a situation that probably shaped his dour, resentful character. In AD 79, Vespasian was succeeded by Titus as Augustus, with Domitian taking the junior position of Caesar. But Titus ruled only two years before he fell ill and died in September of AD 81. Domitian wasted no time in seizing power as the third emperor of the Flavian dynasty. He soon proved a conscientious, detail-oriented administrator who kept a firm hand on all facets of government. Despite his uneven military record, the legions loved Domitian for raising their pay by nearly 50 percent. But Domitian's suspicion of the aristocracy soon deepened into paranoia. Unsuccessful conspiracies against him in AD 87 and 89 caused him to abandon all restraint, and by AD 93 Rome was in the grip of a reign of terror. Even Domitian's wife came to fear for her life, and she encouraged the emperor's personal attendants to plot against him, leading to his murder in AD 96. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-domitian-as-caesar-ad-81-96-av-aureus-19mm-736-gm-7h-ngc-au-5-5-4-5-edge-scuffs/a/3115-31075.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 8000-12000 USD |  |
Match 5:
| Roma Numismatics Ltd > Auction XXX | Auction date: 21 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 428 Price realized: 20,000 GBP (Approx. 25,336 USD / 23,327 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Vespasian AV Aureus. Lugdunum, AD 71. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head to right / TITVS ET DOMITIAN CAES PRIN IVVEN, Titus and Domitian seated to left on curule chairs, each holding a branch. RIC II.1 -, cf. 1318 (denarius); C. 543 var. (obv. legend); BMCRE -; Biaggi -; Calicó -. 7.27g, 19mm, 6h. NGC graded Ch XF 4/5 - 4/5 (#6944528-001). Struck from dies of fine style and preserved with beautifully lustrous metal. Unpublished and seemingly unique - a remarkable addition to the corpus of Flavian coinage. This unpublished aureus provides an illuminating insight into the relationship between the emperor Vespasian and his sons Titus and Domitian and his desire to establish the legitimacy of his new Flavian dynasty. The implied emphasis on a linear succession, highlighted by the depiction of his two sons on the reverse of this coin is particularly pertinent from a historical perspective, given that Titus' succession of Vespasian in AD 79 represented the first occasion since the inception of the principate by Augustus that a biological child had been the successor to an emperor. Vespasian, having been sent to Judaea by Nero in AD 66 to put down the Jewish rebellion, was joined by Titus, by now a tried, tested and capable commander who brought his own legion to support the existing troops. Josephus describes in vivid detail the taking of the city of Taricheae by Titus, who he says was the first to enter the city ahead of his men, his boldness taking those guarding the walls by surprise and allowing his forces to overwhelm them, to the delight of his father (The Wars of the Jews, III.10.5-6). During the chaos that ensued at Rome after the death of Nero in AD 69, Titus was sent to pay Vespasian's respects to the new emperor Galba, although he never reached Rome as he learned en route that Galba was already dead at the hands of Otho, with Vitellius preparing to march on Rome. Titus therefore abandoned the journey and rejoined his father in Judaea; he was then the crucial interlocutor (Tacitus, Histories, II.5) between Vespasian and the Syrian governor in negotiations that gained the military support of the governor of Syria, Gaius Licinius Mucianus. This provided Vespasian with the necessary forces to emphatically defeat the third new emperor of the same year, Vitellius, and ascend to the purple in December of AD 69. Titus was left in Judaea in AD 69, entrusted with bringing an end to the Jewish rebellion, thus freeing Vespasian to march on Rome. After his success at the siege of Jerusalem he returned to Rome, arriving in AD 71, which coincides with the date for the striking of this coin. He was received with much acclaim and fanfare, and his father immediately appointed him to several positions within the state, including those of consul and Praetorian Prefect, the latter giving him authority over the Praetorian guard. Both he and his brother Domitian were furthermore confirmed in the rank of Caesar, to which they had already been appointed, and received the honorific of Princeps Iuventutis. While Domitian was 12 years Titus' junior and therefore had been less able to demonstrate the same military and diplomatic abilities as his brother by the time Vespasian came to power, he was nevertheless promoted simultaneously with Titus. This decision to show no outward favouritism appears to be reflected by the iconography of this coin, which depicts them as equals: they are both seated on curule chairs, which had been long-associated with offices of power, despite the fact that in reality Domitian's official roles as Caesar and Praetor were only nominal and did not represent the wielding of any significant control. It is clear, however, that Vespasian was eager to represent both his sons as worthy successors. Estimate: 12500 GBP |  |
