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| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 62 | Auction date: 6 October 2011 |
| Lot number: 2029 | |
| Lot description: The S.C. Markoff Collection of Roman Coins The Roman Empire Titus caesar, 69 – 79 Aureus, Judaea 70, AV 7.52 g. IMP T [CAESAR V]ESPASIANVS Laureate head r., with aegis. Rev. IVDAE[A] – [DEVI]CTA Victory standing r., l. foot on helmet, inscribing VICT / AVG on shield set on palm tree. C –. BMC –. CBN –. RIC 1536 (this coin). RPC –. Hendin 1478a (this coin). Unique. An issue of tremendous historical importance and fascination. One of the very few Roman issues to be struck in Judaea and possibly the most important coin of the whole series. A very unusual portrait and a reverse composition of great symbolism. Slightly off-centre, otherwise about extremely fine Ex Freeman & Sear list 10, 2005, 93. The production of imperial-style coinage was greatly expanded during the civil war of 68-69 and its aftermath. New imperial mints – mostly temporary – were activated throughout the empire, including in Gaul, Spain, North Africa, the Balkans, Asia Minor, Syria and, perhaps, Judaea and Egypt. Distinguishing the products of these mints demands a careful study of style, fabric, technical features and historical circumstances. The style of engraving on this aureus is arresting. The portrait is deeply cut, vigorous and forceful, and has a Late Hellenistic quality. The reverse is equally sculptural, and creates a strong multi-dimensional composition. By contrast, the peripheral elements are far less accomplished. The beaded border is in no way precise and the inscriptions are cut in a cursory manner that suggests the engraver was a copyist unfamiliar with Latin, or, at the very least, not accustomed to engraving Latin inscriptions. On balance, it seems likely that the engraver of the designs was not the same person who cut the peripheral elements, as so often seems to be the case with Roman coins. Determining the mint of this seemingly unique aureus is a challenge, as there are no precise parallels for some of its features. The spectacular reverse type cannot provide a certain answer as the Flavians celebrated their victory in Judaea on coinage empire-wide. The authors of RIC have suggested a mint in Judaea in 70. If so, this issue likely would have been used to pay Roman soldiers who had participated in the nearly five-month siege of Jerusalem which concluded in September of that year. After razing the Temple and stripping the city of its portable wealth, the legions of Titus began to oversee the dispersal of many surviving Jews throughout the empire, typically as slaves. The other known issue of aurei with this IVDAEA DEVICTA type (RIC II pt.I 1535; RPC II 1912) is also attributed by the authors of RPC and RIC to a mint in Judaea in 70. There are notable differences between the two issues, including the character of the portrait, the style of lettering, the arrangement of the reverse inscription, and the decoration on the shield (IMP T CAES rather than VICT AVG). However, the two issues have so much else in common that they may well be contemporary issues from the same mint struck with dies created by engravers with different artistic approaches. Estimate: 250000 CHF |  |
